Holding Trucking Companies Accountable
Federal law limits the number of hours that interstate truck drivers can operate their vehicles and requires drivers to take periodic breaks. Those laws also require truck drivers to keep electronic logs or physical logbooks showing rest breaks and hours driven. However, because many long-haul truck drivers are paid by the mile or by the load, they are motivated to ignore laws limiting how long they are allowed to drive.
When an accident happens, these drivers face a big problem: Their logbooks may not accurately depict their time on the road. In an effort to avoid legal consequences after causing an accident and injury, truckers may falsify their logs. Trucking companies and their drivers are not required to keep logs forever. The law permits the destruction of logs less than a year after a crash. Therefore, it is vital to hire attorneys to take immediate action to put the truck driver and trucking company on notice to preserve all evidence, including logs of the driver’s actions in the hours, days and weeks before the crash.
Turn To Our Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers When You Need Help
At Konicek & Dillon, P.C., we are strong advocates for truck accident victims and their families. We hold negligent drivers and trucking companies responsible for their actions, and we have obtained millions in compensation and justice for our clients.
Our firm draws on more than a century of combined experience. We understand how to build successful truck accident injury cases and have the investigative and advocacy skills to handle the most complex cases.
We will thoroughly investigate the crash that injured you or your loved one, including closely inspecting and auditing the driver’s logs, comparing the information to other verifiable information (such as toll payment data, showing the driver to be at precise locations at precise times, from which speed and time driving can be determined). If available, we also examine the truck’s “black box” or electronic control module that stores critical information regarding the speed and operation of the truck. Truck accidents are not simple car accidents, and lawyers should not handle them like they handle car accident cases.
Our entire team commits itself to providing individually tailored legal representation that puts our experience to work for you. We know that successful cases are built on successful attorney client relationships.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations limit interstate truck drivers to 11 hours’ cumulative driving time in a 14-hour period, after a rest period of at least 10 hours. Drivers who are employed in daily operations may not work more than 70 hours in an eight-day period.
Action Plan
- Immediately call Konicek & Dillon, P.C., or contact us online. Immediate, professional and thorough investigation is needed to best develop and advance any claim or lawsuit against a truck driver or trucking company.
Contact Konicek & Dillon, P.C.
Falsifying driver logs is a serious problem that adversely affects the safety of all drivers and passengers. That is why it is illegal.
Let us determine for you if that illegal activity has contributed to your injury. Contact Konicek & Dillon, P.C., for a free consultation. Call our Geneva office at 630-313-2071 or our Chicago office at 312-239-0283. We also invite you to contact us online if you prefer.
