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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration imposes strict “Hours of Service” restrictions on commercial tractor-trailer drivers. These limit the total number of hours those drivers can work and drive within specific periods of time. In order to prove they are following these regulations and keep track of the work they have performed, truck drivers keep written logbooks detailing when they went on and off shift, when they were driving versus performing work-related tasks off the road, and when they took breaks.
Given the information contained within them, the role of logbooks in Philadelphia truck accident cases is primarily in establishing when and for how long a particular trucker was on the road prior to getting into a wreck. However, this particular type of evidence can also help with a few other aspects of this sort of claim, especially if you have help from a capable truck accident lawyer to use it effectively.
What Can a Logbook Prove During a Lawsuit?
The crux of any successful civil lawsuit or settlement demand over a truck wreck is proving that a specific reckless or careless act by another person, which violated a “duty of care” they owed to the injured person filing suit, was the main and direct cause of the wreck. Violating federal laws regarding trucker hours of service qualifies as a breach of the duty truck drivers and trucking companies have to act lawfully and responsibly while conducting business on public roads. A logbook that shows a driver was on the road longer than they were legally allowed is crucial evidence to incorporate into a Philadelphia truck accident claim.
However, logbooks can also provide crucial information about other ways in which a truck driver or their employer may have acted unlawfully and made themselves civilly liable for the ensuing crash. For example, if a logbook shows that a driver did not keep accurate track of their off-duty time, that a driver covered more miles in a 24-hour period than what should have been possible legally, or that the truck did not have up-to-date inspection reports, those are all potential evidence of negligence that made the accident more likely to occur.
Dealing With an Incomplete or Doctored Logbook
Unfortunately, a lot of trucking companies who keep their drivers on the road for too long are well aware that what they are doing is illegal and that an accurate logbook would be conclusive evidence that could result in serious legal trouble. Because of that, businesses often keep logbooks incorrectly as a regular—but also very illegal—business practice or even intentionally alter or destroy them after a crash occurs.
What this means in practice is not that a logbook cannot play a useful role in a Philadelphia truck accident case, but rather that you cannot always trust it as a perfectly accurate summary of what the truck driver really did and where they really were at any given time. Among many other things, a skilled truck accident lawyer can provide vital help with determining how truthful the details in the trucker’s logbook actually are, identifying unlawful alterations, and pursuing the strongest possible claim with—or without—the evidence this document provides.
Contact a Philadelphia Attorney Who Can Explain the Role of Logbooks in Your Truck Accident Case
While a truck driver’s logbook typically will not ultimately decide your lawsuit over a truck crash, it is still a very important piece of evidence to have on your side. As with any other form of evidence, though, the role of logbooks in Philadelphia truck accident cases will vary depending on how effectively you can use the information it contains and how well you can verify that information as true—both of which can be very difficult to accomplish alone.
Representation from a seasoned truck accident lawyer is crucial to taking full advantage of this and every other piece of information relevant to your unique lawsuit. Call today to set up a free consultation with a well-practiced attorney.
