Tampa Truck Driver Log Accident Lawyer

Tampa Truck Driver Log Accident Lawyer

 Commercial truck drivers must follow strict regulations regarding their hours of service to prevent fatigue-related accidents. Part of that job involves recording their schedules in a logbook. These logs should fully account for their trips from start to finish. Unfortunately, truckers and trucking companies sometimes falsify logbooks to make quicker deliveries or save money. These negligent acts compromise highway safety and put everyone in harm’s way.   

If you were hurt in a truck crash in Florida, a Tampa truck driver log accident lawyer from Paul Knopf Bigger can determine whether logbook violations contributed to the wreck and help you seek fair compensation. Our attorneys have decades of combined legal experience and a history of achieving successful outcomes for our clients. Call or contact us today for a free consultation about your truck accident claim.

 Reasons to Hire Our Attorneys for Your Truck Log Violation Case

When you need a truck accident attorney in Tampa, choosing the right law firm can help maximize your compensation and make the legal process as easy as possible. Clients choose Paul Knopf Bigger because of our: 

  • Board-certified legal team – Our firm’s managing partners are all board-certified civil trial attorneys, demonstrating our proven knowledge and skill in and out of the courtroom.
  • Collaborative approach – We take a team approach to every case. Through collaboration, we provide comprehensive legal representation for every client, giving them a better chance of recovering full and fair compensation for their injuries.
  • Decades of legal experience – As with any job, the more time you spend practicing law, the more you learn and the better you get at it. Our truck accident attorneys have decades of combined legal experience, and we use that accumulated knowledge for your benefit.
  • Proven results – With our help, many of our clients have recovered millions of dollars in compensation to rebuild their lives and recover from their injuries.

Truck accident cases are among the most complex personal injury claims. You need a lawyer you can count on to stand up to trucking companies, insurance companies, and high-powered defense attorneys. A Tampa truck log violation lawyer from Paul Knopf Bigger won’t back down. We’ll go the distance for you.  

What are Truck Driver Log Requirements? 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established guidelines covering truck drivers’ hours of service and recordkeeping requirements. Truck drivers operating commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) that weigh 10,001 pounds or more, transport hazardous materials requiring placards, and are involved in interstate commerce be equipped with an electronic logging device (ELD) that automatically tracks their hours. Truck companies must keep these records for up to six months.

The daily log should include:  

  • The month, day, and year
  • The number of miles driven that day
  • The truck or tractor and trailer numbers
  • The name and address of the motor carrier
  • Their signature to certify the log’s accuracy
  • The name of any co-drivers, if applicable
  • The time zone used at the driver’s home terminal
  • The location and time of each change in duty status
  • A 24-hour grid marking off-duty, sleeper berth, driving, and on-duty driving periods

There are two situations in which drivers may qualify for exceptions that modify logging requirements: 

  • 100-air-mile radius exception – Drivers operating within a 100-air-mile radius and returning to their work reporting location within 12 hours may not need to keep a logbook, but their employers must keep accurate time records.
  • Non-CDL short-haul exception – Drivers of non-CDL trucks operating within a 150-air-mile radius and returning to the work location each day may be exempt from logbooks but must meet specific duty hour limitations.

Logbooks are essential for complying with safety regulations and helping ensure drivers do not operate under dangerous levels of fatigue.

Common Violations in Truck Driver Logs 

Keeping accurate truck driver logs plays a vital role in preserving road safety. However, some drivers and truck companies commit violations through:

  • False logs – Truck drivers might falsify logs to appear as if they took required breaks when they didn’t. Missing rest can lead to fatigue, increasing the risk of a deadly truck accident. Falsifying logbooks can lead to regulatory and civil penalties, especially if logbook violations contribute to a crash.
  • Exceeding driving limits – Without an accurate log, truck drivers may exceed their hours-of-service limits without realizing it. Extended driving without adequate rest leads to drowsiness. According to the National Safety Council, drowsy driving is similar to drunk driving in its impact on a driver’s ability to react and make sound decisions.
  • Not recording duty status changes – Failing to accurately record changes in duty status can obscure how much rest a driver has gotten.
  • Inaccurate log entries – Incorrect entries, such as wrong dates, times, or mileage, can mislead inspections and audits. Inaccurate logs make it challenging to ensure compliance with safety regulations, potentially allowing fatigued drivers to stay on the road longer than is safe.
  • Failure to retain logs – A truck company must retain logs for six months. Failure to do so can hinder investigations into truck accidents and make it difficult to verify compliance with hours-of-service rules. When unsafe driving practices go unchecked, people can get hurt.

 The Impact of Truck Driver Log Violations on Accident Claims

Proving negligence is essential to prevail in a personal injury claim. After a trucking accident, the driver’s logbook may be a pivotal piece of evidence for determining what happened and who should be liable for any injuries and losses. Falsified entries or missing records can establish negligence by the truck driver and/or their employer. In addition, insurance companies and courts may view the violations as evidence of unsafe practices, potentially increasing the compensation awarded to a truck accident victim. Fines or sanctions by regulatory authorities can support the injured party’s case. 

Contact a Tampa Truck Accident Lawyer Now

You deserve maximum compensation if you or a loved one sustained injuries in a tractor-trailer accident. The Tampa truck accident attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger will access and thoroughly investigate a truck driver’s digital or paper logs to find evidence of violations that may support your claim. Call or contact us online today for a free case evaluation.