Semitruck crash victims sometimes opt to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the owner of the rig. These cases often hinge on many factors, one of which might be how the semitruck was maintained prior to the crash. Having maintenance records can help you to build a defense strategy.
Besides being able to assist in a defense strategy in a personal injury case, maintenance logs are also required by law. These requirements are covered under the Code of Federal Regulations Title 49 §396.
What records are required to be kept?
All rigs must have an informational record that’s kept in the rig while it’s in service, as well as the six months following it being removed from service. This must contain a host of information, including identifying makers like the fleet number, VIN, owner, make, model, year and tire size.
Maintenance records aren’t required to be kept in the rig, but they must be kept at the rig’s home base or the location where it’s maintained for one year. Final records must be kept for six months after the rig is removed from service or transferred to a new owner.
These must include records of specific services, such as repairs, lubrication, inspections and maintenance. There must also be a preset schedule for necessary maintenance on the vehicle.
Daily vehicle inspection reports, which must be signed by at least one, and sometimes three people, must be kept for three months. Roadside inspections must be kept for a year. Annual inspections must be kept for 14 months.
Because there are so many records required, some semitruck owners opt for digitized records. These are sometimes preferred because of the ease of finding the information that may be necessary as part of a defense.
It’s critical to remember that these requirements are the bare minimum. Keeping comprehensive maintenance records with detailed entries can prove valuable if there’s ever a claim that cites lax maintenance as a crash cause.
Working with someone who’s familiar with these matters may be beneficial because these cases can be complex. They often lead to costly and time-consuming litigation that can derail a company’s focus. Ultimately, the goal is to protect the company.