Outlined here is the fifth step to follow if you or a loved one is injured in a trucking accident.

Fifth, it is important to notify the trucking company and truck driver in writing as soon after the accident as possible to keep and maintain certain records and documents which will be important in pursuing the truck accident injury claim.  Federal law only requires the trucking company to keep some documentation for a limited period of time unless the trucking company is informed that a claim may be made.  This would include the log books of the truck driver which records the truck drivers activities up to and including the accident.  Log books are to record the truck drivers time on the road, in the sleeper berth and off-duty times.  Overall speeds can be calculated using log books.  Also, logbook violations can be significant in making the personal injury claim against the trucking company.

Other documents such as trip sheets, pre-trip inspections and post-trip inspections, including inspections of the braking system, as well as bills of lading and documentation of the product or material being transported can be very important.  It is important that notification be given to the trucking company and truck driver that none of these records are to be altered or destroyed.

Most modern tractor-truck units are equipped with an “event recorder,” often referred to as “black boxes.”  These computer recorders can be invaluable in recording speeds, engine rpms, braking and other important data to reconstruct what caused the truck accident.  In fact, many passenger motor vehicles are likewise equipped with these event recorders, and this information can be downloaded and utilized very effectively.  It is important that the trucking company or owner of the truck be notified that such event recorder data be preserved and not destroyed.  The data should be available if it has not been downloaded or if the truck has not been totaled and sent for salvage.

Our law firm utilizes experts who can download event recorder data and this information needs to be obtained in pursuing the personal injury claim against the truck driver and trucking company.  Please contact our lawfirm at our website www.truckaccidentlegalcenter.com or our toll free number (800) 943-4529.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 15th, 2008 at 12:09 pm and is filed under Truck Accident. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.