Importance of Log Books to a San Antonio Trucking Accident

Injuries from trucking accidents are all too common in the San Antonio area, and the importance of log books to a San Antonio trucking accident is becoming increasingly more legally relevant. For instance, did you know that San Antonio truck drivers and their companies are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration? These regulations include limitations on the amount of time a driver is supposed to spend on the job, which are required to be kept in a log book or on-board recorder.

The attorneys at Carabin Shaw keep a close eye on the FMCSA’s regulations year after year, so when we get a call that you or someone in a similar circumstance as yours has been injured, we are prepared to argue their case before the dust settles.

Unless recorded by an on-board recorder, a log book is the method a truck driver uses to account for their hours of service limitation, which must account for all 24 hours of every day, even days off. This log must also include, at a minimum, entries for 7 days prior to the current date. Failure to properly maintain logs could mean a hefty fine or being forced into a driving status known as ‘out of service.’ This failure can take many forms, as our San Antonio trucking injury lawyer has shown in court many times.

These logs must include date, total miles driving, truck and trailer number, main office address, driver’s signature, total hours, remarks, name of co-driver, if any, time base used, and shipping information. As a result, the importance of log books to a San Antonio trucking accident can be monumental. Any error in any of the above-mentioned areas can lead to enormous fines for the driver and the company they work for, which can then be taken into account by your attorney to offset your injuries, lost wages, alternative transportation costs, ongoing medical treatment, and any other ancillary expenses you have incurred as a result of your accident.

Unfortunately, due to the pressures of competition, truckers will often alter their log entries to reflect state and federal standards rather than the truth.

To offset this practice, many San Antonio trucking companies have installed electronic devices to help accurately record this information in place of log books. These devices must be connected to the truck to record:

• Engine use,
• Road speed,
• Miles driven,
• Date of the above entries,
• And their time of day.

They must also store information for the prior 7 days. But as we all know, technology is not always working properly. Our lawyers will take a look at these readouts early in your representation for just that reason.

The preservation of these logs is not only required by law, but essential to your case if you have been injured in a trucking accident. It could help prove either that the driver violated the regulations or that the trucking company knew the driver was violating the regulations, which lead to the accident that caused your injury. In such cases a knowledgeable San Antonio trucking accident lawyer is an essential and necessary part of your legal strategy.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a large commercial vehicle or an 18-wheeler, call the San Antonio 18 wheeler accident lawyers at the law firm of Carabin Shaw. Our dedicated team of attorneys knows the federal rules and regulations that truck drivers, and the trucking companies that employ them, must follow, as well as the importance of log books to a San Antonio trucking accident. Call us at 210-222-2288, day or night, or toll free at 800-862-1260, for more information.