Truck accident attorney lists the proper pre-trip inspection

This is the ninth of a series of 13 videos for truck accident lawyers, on handling truck crash cases.
In this video, Steve Gursten, one of the most renowned truck accident lawyers in the U.S., shares Rule 8 of his "Big 10 Rules of the Road" with other truck accident lawyers, during the American Association for Justice Interstate Truck Litigation Group conference. Rule 8 explains how a truck accident attorney can show - during a deposition -- that a truck driver performed a negligent pre-trip inspection. Here's a blog on the subject: Why is the pre-trip inspection the most violated safety rule in truck accident cases? http://www.michiganautolaw.com/auto-lawyers-blog/2010/03/18/how-to-impeach-a-...

Below is the video transcript:

" Slide: Driver inspection requirements
A. Every driver must prepare written inspection report at end of each workday
B. At minimum, follow-up points must be inspected (Brakes, steering, lighting devices, tires, horn, wipers, rear-view mirrors, coupling devices, wheels/rims, emergency equipment).
C. Before operating, driver must be satisfied that truck is safe.
Alright, driver inspection requirements. This may be the most violated rule of all of them: 392.9. Driver must inspect both his truck and his cargo (weight) http://www.michiganautolaw.com/truck-accident/laws-regulations/cargo-weight.php within the first 50 miles, whenever he has a change of duty status, and when he drives over three hours or 150 miles. ANd this is the key: He must inspect, not only all of the items, listed under (slide) point B, but also listed under cargo. So, you're going to find when you start going through these driver logs -- I promise you -- that either it's not being done at all or clearly, it's not being done the right way. Because if he has on his driver log that it took him five minutes, or 10 minutes, or even 15 minutes -- to do a complete inspection of all the items under (slide) point B, than he's not doing it right. And you ask him this in his deposition. You take him through every single item he inspected and the cargo, and you show him how absolutely ludicrous it is."

If you'd like to see the other 12 videos in this series, visit the Michigan Auto Law YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/michiganautolaw . Here's more information about the pre-trip inspection http://www.michiganautolaw.com/truck-accident/laws-regulations/pre-trip-inspe... and another blog on the topic called The problem with "lie books" and pre-trip inspections http://www.michiganautolaw.com/auto-lawyers-blog/2010/12/01/truck-accident-at... .

If you're an attorney looking for help litigating truck accident cases, you can also visit Steve Gursten's comprehensive online guide, Help for attorneys handling truck accident cases http://www.michiganautolaw.com/truck-accident/attorney-help/index.php . Read here for tips on discovery of the trucker http://www.michiganautolaw.com/truck-accident/attorney-help/legal-discovery-t... and the truck accident investigation http://www.michiganautolaw.com/truck-accident/attorney-help/accident-investig... .

If you've been in a truck accident in Michigan and need guidance, you can visit our Truck Accident Resource Center http://www.michiganautolaw.com/truck-accident/index.php or call (800) 777-0028 to speak with one of our truck accident attorneys now. There's absolutely no fee or obligation.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Truck
• accident
• attorney
• attorneys
• pre-trip
• inspection
• trucker
• crash