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Charleston, WV and Columbus, OH

Electronic Logging Devices

West Virginia Truck Accident Attorneys

If you were hurt in a truck accident, your ability to recover financial compensation is affected by whether or not negligence can be established. One form of negligence is violating federal rules regarding driving time. The truck accident attorneys at Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC seek data from the electronic logging devices to help us prove your case.

In the trucking industry, there is always pressure to deliver cargo before a deadline. Trucking companies sometimes give drivers very tight schedules. And if the driver experiences traffic or mechanical problems, the deadline is even harder to meet. Drivers would often stay on the road much longer then they should to try to make up time.

But spending long hours on the road creates driver fatigue. And fatigue can be dangerous when you're behind the wheel - it slows reactions times and affects judgment. This increases the risk of causing a truck accident that leaves people with serious injuries.

Federal regulations exist to protect truckers and motorists

Recognizing the danger of driver fatigue, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) created regulations that limited the amount of hours a commercial truck driver could spend on the road each day and each week. As part of these regulations, drivers are required to keep Hours of Service (HOS) logs to provide evidence that they were in compliance.

Previously, drivers used to keep track of their hours of service manually - writing down their times on paper. The problem with this method is that it was easy for drivers to be dishonest about the actual number of hours they were on the road. And it was difficult to prove they were manipulating their records.

But 2015, the FMCSA adopted a rule requiring all interstate commercial truck and bus companies to be equipped with electronic logging devices. These devices record the hours of service electronically, giving a more accurate account. This is vital information, and our attorneys know how to read the data to determine if regulations were being met.

HOS violations can cause serious injuries. We can help.

When we find a violation of HOS, it helps us build a strong case that proves negligence led to the accident that left you injured. This often brings the insurance company to the negotiating table to work out a settlement. But we will only agree to a settlement that meets your needs. If the insurance company tries to lowball us, we will fight for you in court.

Our truck accident attorneys are available to assist anyone in West Virginia or Central Ohio who was a victim of truck driver and trucking company negligence. Contact our firm today for a free consultation with one of our injury attorneys.

Charleston, WV

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
10 Hale St Suite 501
Charleston, WV 25301
Phone: (304) 720-1000

Columbus, OH

Mani Ellis & Layne, PLLC
20 E Broad St Suite 1000
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 587-8423