The trucking industry is complex and requires all elements involved in hiring, training, monitoring drivers, truck maintenance, and freight loading to follow FMCSA regulations and uphold the legal duty of care. Failure to adhere to regulations or take all reasonable measures to avoid an accident leaves the negligent party liable for damages to truck accident victims. An estimated 70% of truck accident injuries and fatalities occur to motorists in standard vehicles, not the truck driver. If you were injured in an accident, contact a truck accident attorney in Lake Stevens immediately.
If a trucking company hires a driver who does not pass the medical requirements for the position or fails to check a driver’s required Department of Transportation (DOT) physical records, the trucking company is liable for accident-related damages and could also face significant penalties for the violation.
What Is a DOT Physical In the Trucking Industry?
Freight-carrying trucks may legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded, placing other motorists sharing the roadway at significant risk in the event of an accident. Commercial truck drivers have to be in good physical condition to operate a truck safely. Obtaining and maintaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL), which allows a driver to operate a commercial vehicle legally, requires passing a DOT physical examination and repeating it every two years. Included in the examination are the following requirements:
- Drivers must submit a full medical history
- Medical professionals test the driver’s vision and hearing
- They test the driver’s blood pressure
- The driver must undergo a full physical examination
- The DOT physical also includes a urine test for kidney screening, diabetes screening, and mandatory drug screening
- Often, the DOT physical includes screening for sleep apnea risk or performing sleep apnea tests for those at risk of the condition
A truck driver must be in overall good health to qualify for a CDL and to maintain the certification in order to drive a truck safely and legally.
What Health Conditions Disqualify a Truck Driver?
Under the Department of Transportation, truck drivers are required to meet specific medical standards. If diagnosed with a medical condition that could impact their driving safety, they cannot maintain their CDL. Disqualifying medical conditions include the following:
- Cardiovascular problems and uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Vision or hearing loss
- Seizures or epilepsy
- Diabetes
- Kidney failure
- Sleep apnea
- Substance abuse
- Psychiatric problems that could impair judgement or cognitive ability
If a driver fails their DOT exam, they are allowed to file an appeal or apply for a medical waiver.
How Do Driver Medical Requirements Impact a Truck Accident Case?
If a trucking company hires a driver who failed to pass their DOT physical or fails to require their drivers to comply with the two-year required DOT physical to maintain their CDL, the company could be held liable for any truck accident damages resulting from an unfit driver due to their negligent hiring and employee monitoring practices. If a truck driver does not submit a full medical history in order to hide a disqualifying medical condition, the driver may be personally liable for an injury victim’s damages if they caused the accident.
After a truck accident with injuries and damages, examining the truck driver’s medical requirements and disqualifications can be a key aspect of proving negligence and liability. Contact a Lake Stevens injury lawyer for legal guidance.