There’s a lot that you don’t know at the scene of a Florida truck crash. For example, you have no immediate way of knowing how long the trucker had been driving that day or during that week. However, there is a way to get this information, and it could be critical to your truck accident case.
Federal Hours of Service Regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintains hours of service regulations that define how long truckers can drive in a given day, how long truckers can drive in a 7/8 day period, and when truckers must take breaks. Even though the specifics of the hours of service rules can change, their purpose remains the same. The hours of service regulations are supposed to prevent tired truckers from driving while drowsy or exhausted and causing dangerous accidents.
Determining How Long a Trucker Was Driving
The trucker involved in the accident isn’t going to tell you he was tired. Instead, you and your truck accident lawyer are going to need to request the right evidence to determine if the hours of service regulations might have been violated and if the trucker’s fatigue may have caused your crash.
Some of the evidence that your lawyer might request includes:
- Electronic logging device recordings. Some trucks electronically record data about when the truck is being driven.
- Cell phone records. Cell phone records may show when a driver was texting, talking, or otherwise using the phone. In some cases, it may provide useful information about where the trucker was and what the trucker was doing at any given time.
- GPS information. GPS devices may record the location of the truck. This information can be useful in determining where the truck was at any given time.
- Shipping records. Some shipping records may have a stamp with the time and date of a pick-up or delivery. This information can also help establish where a truck was at any given time and when the truck was being driven.
- Receipts. Similar to shipping records, a trucker’s food and gas receipts can show where a trucker was at a given point of time and help piece together the trucker’s work hours.
- Driving log. Truckers typically complete driving logs that show when the trucker was on duty, when the trucker was driving, and when the trucker took breaks. This is essential evidence, but it is not always reliable. The other information on this list may prove or disprove the driving log’s accuracy.
Attorney Coy H. Browning is a former Florida State Trooper. He has investigated hundreds of truck crashes and knows what evidence to demand from trucking companies. Call The Browning Law Firm today for a free case evaluation and to discuss your legal options and possible recovery.
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