When you think of common causes of commercial truck accidents, you might immediately think of truck drivers speeding, falling asleep at the wheel, driving while intoxicated, and other driver errors. You likely do not consider how the health of a truck driver might put you at risk of an accident and injuries, though it can do so in different ways.
CDL Requirements
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and state laws set out many requirements for individuals to obtain their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). One requirement is to undergo a thorough health examination and have a designated medical professional sign off that you are in good health. Drivers must undergo additional health exams to renew their CDLs.
Some health issues that might disqualify a driver – especially if they are not receiving proper treatment – include the following:
- Heart disease
- Epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Vision or hearing loss
- Arthritis or muscle weakness
- Mental illnesses
If you have untreated heart disease, you might experience cardiac arrest while behind the wheel. Untreated epilepsy or diabetes can result in a seizure. Musculoskeletal issues can prevent you from maintaining control of a large truck. For these reasons, when truck drivers fail to report health problems in between examinations, they run the risk of crashing due to a serious health event.
Another health issue that can cause problems is sleep apnea. Drivers with untreated sleep apnea might experience fatigue during the day, and they are more likely to fall asleep on the road and crash.
Contact Truck Accident Lawyer in Campbell for Help
At the law firm of Schaar & Silva, LLP, our Campbell truck accident attorneys take on complicated commercial trucking cases, and we are here to help. Contact us online or call 408.721.1111 for your free case evaluation about your rights as a truck accident victim.
