How can obtaining a trucker’s log book help my Tennessee truck accident injury claim?

When an 80,000 pound semi-truck hits a 4,000 pound car, the results can be tragic. Because Tennessee tractor trailer accidents are so dangerous, Tennessee truck drivers must follow both state and federal regulations, which govern everything from vehicle maintenance to proper loading to how much sleep and rest a driver must get.

If you are injured in a Tennessee trucking accident, your Memphis accident attorney will investigate every aspect of the crash to determine who was at fault and how the accident could have been prevented. He will look at police reports, trucking company records, and the accident scene, so he can piece together what happened. He will also look at the trucker’s log book.

All truckers by law must keep a log book in which they track time driving, time on-duty and not driving, time sleeping, and time off duty. This is important because federal laws govern the amount of time a driver can be behind the wheel and how much rest and sleep he must get before getting back behind the wheel. As of February 2012, drivers can work a maximum of 70 hours per week and must take a 30 minute break every eight hours.

This sounds like a lot of driving, yet drivers try to sneak in extra hours in order to deliver their loads on time. If a trucker’s logbook shows that the driver exceeded the number of hours he or she was allowed to drive, this could prove negligence. And, it isn’t just the driver who could be found liable. The trucking company that hired the driver may also be found responsible. In many cases, it is the employer that demands extra time on the road or requires the driver to meet legally impossible deadlines.

The Memphis trucking accident attorney at Greer Injury Lawyers make your accident their priority. To discuss your truck accident injury, contact Greer Injury Lawyers at 888-470-9143. The initial consultation is free.