An extremely efficient piece of equipment, an electronic onboard recording device—or EOBR for short—is used to record data about trucks and their operators. Required in most big rigs used today, the following takes a look at what an EOBR records and how they may be useful in a truck accident claim.
What does an EOBR record?
An EOBR records an array of vital data. Under Information Requirements published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, § 395, Hours of Service, an EOBR must produce the following: driver’s hour of service chart and time and sequence of duty status change at the beginning of each day. But most EOBR does more than just record a driver’s hour of service.
Rather, these devices also capture this valuable information.
- A driver’s name
- Co-driver's name
- Date and times driven
- Driving status (off duty, on duty)
- Distance traveled by the driver
- Hours performed in each duty status
- Truck number
- Name of shipper of goods and goods type
- Location of vehicle at time of duty status change
How does an EOBR relate to my accident claim?
Truck drivers have very strict hours of service requirements imposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. When a driver violates these terms of service, he or she is considered negligent. What’s more, breaking service hours can be extremely dangerous, and may lead to fatigued driving, distracted driving, and ultimately an accident.
If you suspect that your truck accident was caused because a driver was violating hours of service and that this violation caused the accident and your injuries, you’ll have to prove it in order to recover damages. If data on an EOBR corresponds with your assumptions and claim, the truck driver (or the trucking company, depending upon the circumstances) could be held liable for your damages.
Types of damages you may be able to recover in a truck accident claim include but are not limited to these.
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Future expenses related to the crash
Do I need a truck accident attorney?
If you want to access EOBR data, it is often easier for accident victims to allow an attorney to write a spoliation letter and contact the truck company for this information. An attorney who knows trucking laws and regulations will be key. To meet with Max Meyers Law PLLC for a free consultation about your truck accident and how a truck’s onboard recording device may affect your claim, call Max Meyers today at 425-399-7000.
