Truck driving is a dangerous occupation. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more drivers in Texas are killed in truck accidents than in any other state. Research suggests that over 500 people suffer fatal injuries in truck accidents across the state every year. This means that 14% of all fatal truck accidents in the nation occur in Texas. Approximately 11% of all fatal traffic accidents in Texas involve a large truck.
Truck Safety & Electronic On-Board Recorders (EOBRs)
EOBRs are used by truck drivers and their employers to enforce the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. These regulations state that truck drivers are not allowed to exceed a certain number of hours behind the wheel within a given timeframe. In the past, truck drivers kept paper logbooks to record their "driving time."
These logbooks were susceptible to error, though; a driver could easily miscalculate the amount of time he /she drove or make an purposeful error to meet a driving deadline. Trucking companies are notorious for pushing their drivers to exceed safe driving hours, which can increase the likelihood of an accident.
With EOBRs, driving time is always accurate, making it nearly impossible for a driver to "cheat" on his / her logbook.
Are EOBRs Mandatory?
No. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) does not require drivers to use EOBRs. However, on-board recorders can increase driver safety by accurately documenting the number of hours / miles each driver spends behind the wheel.
EOBRs & Truck Accident Lawsuits
If you or a loved one was involved in a serious truck accident, you have the right to pursue financial compensation for your suffering. If the truck was equipped with an EOBR, you can use it as evidence to determine if the drive over extended his / her allotted driving time. If so, you may have grounds for negligence. To learn more about your rights, speak to a truck accident attorney.
Houston Truck Accident Lawyer
The Daspit Law Firm is a personal injury law firm that serves Houston and the surrounding regions. Our founding attorney, John Daspit, has experience handling multi-million dollar cases. We are confident in our ability to help truck accident victims recover the money they deserve, so contact our office today.
