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The Cooper Law Firm are truck accident lawyers in Canton, Van Zandt, Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson, Paris, and Marshall, Texas who may be able to help you seek damages for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering following a semi-truck accident. There are many reasons why truck accidents take place in Texas. Sometimes drivers make critical errors behind the wheel and sometimes truck companies fail to properly vet their drivers. When truck accidents occur, victims may want to speak to a qualified semi-truck accident lawyer in Texas. Why? Truck companies are required to abide by strict regulations set by the federal government. These regulations include strict limits on driver’s health.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, every 24 months, truck drivers are required to submit to a medical examination. If drivers have certain conditions that could potentially impact their ability to drive, the driver’s doctor might require the driver to submit to an examination sooner than the 24-month period. For example, conditions like high blood pressure or heart conditions might need monitoring. While these conditions, in themselves, might not bar a driver from driving a truck, drivers need to be aware that these conditions can impact their ability to safely drive. If you have been in a truck accident in Canton, Van Zandt, Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson, Paris, and Marshall, Texas, you may have the right to seek damages if a driver’s health condition contributed to the accident. Truck companies have a responsibility to vet their drivers, make sure that their medical examiner’s certificate is up to date, and keep proper records. The Cooper Law Firm are truck accident attorneys in Texas who can review your driver’s medical history, medical examiner’s results, and other documentation that can reveal whether your truck driver may have had a medical condition that could impact driving ability.
Driving with a Heart Condition
Truck drivers who are diagnosed with arrhythmia may not be safe to operate a motor vehicle. This condition can make a driver feel faint behind the wheel and could even result in a driver passing out while driving. While having a heart condition won’t automatically bar someone from driving, it is important that truck drivers see a doctor, get their arrhythmia diagnosed, and determine whether treatment will be sufficient to prevent fainting spells. Drivers who have not fainted and those who take medications that keep fainting episodes in check may be permitted to drive. However, this condition must be monitored, according to WebMD.
According to the Heart Foundation, if you have had a heart attack, you may need to speak to your doctor about when it is safe to drive. The Heart Foundation notes that the suggested wait time to resume driving after a coronary bypass is four weeks (at least), two weeks after a heart attack, and two days after a stent has been inserted. If you are a truck driver, however, the damage that an accident can cause can be more serious should you experience complications, so your doctor may ask you to wait longer or may require that you be more closely monitored for your heart condition before driving. While the desire to get back to work is understandable, truck drivers and companies need to put public safety first.
For victims who have been hurt in a truck accident, it is important to evaluate whether a driver’s heart condition may have contributed to the accident. If a driver’s heart condition did contribute to the crash, the driver, the truck company, and possibly even the driver’s doctor could be held responsible for negligence. The Cooper Law Firm are truck accident lawyers in Texas who can investigate your truck crash to determine whether a truck driver’s medical condition may have contributed to your accident.
High Blood Pressure and Truck Driving
If a truck driver has high blood pressure, he or she may be required to undergo a physical examination every year. Doctors will check to ensure that the driver’s blood pressure can be maintained with or without medication. Truck drivers have a responsibility to take their blood pressure medication. They may be asked to monitor their blood pressure and may be asked to see their doctor if anything changes. Unfortunately, if truck drivers and truck companies fail to monitor their drivers for this common condition, drivers can faint or even have a heart attack while driving. When you’re talking about a multi-ton vehicle, any mistake or medical emergency behind the wheel might not only put the truck driver at risk, but could also endanger others on the road. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a semi-truck accident in Canton, Van Zandt, Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson, Paris, or Marshall, Texas, you may have the right to seek damages from the truck driver, the truck company, or from other negligent parties. The Cooper Law Firm are truck accident attorneys in Texas who help victims and families navigate the insurance claim and negligence claims process.
Seek Justice Today in Texas
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident, you and your family may be facing unique challenges. You may be facing high medical and rehabilitation expenses. You may be wondering when or if you’ll ever be able to return to work. Families may struggle to make ends meet or may struggle if a family member has been disabled in a semi-truck accident. Truck driver negligence or truck company negligence may have been one of the reasons why your truck accident occurred. If this is the case, you and your family may be entitled to make a claim for your damages and losses. However, you may only have a limited amount of time to make a claim under Texas’s statute of limitations. Contact the Cooper Law Firm, Texas truck accident lawyers today to learn more and to seek justice. You are not alone. The Cooper Law Firm provides clients with a free initial consultation during which we can review your claim.
