If you were hit by a big-rig truck, you may suspect the driver was too tired to drive because he didn’t take his required breaks. Truck drivers are only allowed to drive 11 hours during a 14-hour period. But how do you prove he was driving longer?
Federal regulations require truckers to keep a driver’s daily log. It must cover all days of the week, even if the trucker isn’t driving.
Driver’s daily logs are kept in two ways:
- A written log that must include a 24 hour graph grid.
- An automatic on-board recording device. Many truck carriers are now using these.
The automatic on-board recording device records some of the required information electronically and avoids trucker errors, but the trucker still has to manually record the information it doesn’t track. If a truck doesn’t have an electronic device, the driver must manually record all the required information. This includes the date, the driver (and co-driver, if applicable), and the total number of hours driven. The driver must sign the log to certify it is an accurate account. It also must include the 24-hour graph grid documenting all the driving and breaks and a remark section documenting where the trucker stopped.
The driver’s daily log could help your attorney prove your case in a big-rig accident in Southern Califronia by showing the trucker drove too many hours and that he likely suffered from fatigue at the time he caused your accident. Our accident attorneys are experienced in obtaining the documents necessary to prove and win your case.
To learn more about your legal rights after a big-rig accident, call our friendly legal team at (800) 989-6385. We’re here for you any time of day or night, every day of the year.
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