When Truck Drivers Take Ambien are Other Vehicles at Risk?

TYLER and LONGVIEW, Texas. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck drivers are not permitted to take any controlled substance without a valid prescription from a licensed practitioner. Drivers who use prescription amphetamines, narcotics, or habit-forming drugs can be medically disqualified from driving a truck. Yet, there is an exception to this rule. If the doctor prescribing the drug notes that the truck driver is safe to drive, then the driver could theoretically be taking habit-forming drugs while also driving a truck. This is a case where a doctor can override the federal rules. But at the end of the day, drivers still need to be responsible and take these drugs as directed. Sometimes this doesn’t always happen.

Roseanne Barr recently made the news with her racially offensive Tweets. She later tried to explain the behavior by claiming that she was on Ambien. According to the New York Times, the maker of Ambien claims that “While all pharmaceutical medications have side effects, racism is not a known side effect.” Ambien can create significant side effects, such as hallucinations and memory lapses. You may not want your truck driver using the drug right before getting behind the wheel. But a lapse of judgement when it comes to, say, not looking before you change lanes, is much different than consciously crafting a Tweet in poor taste.

Ambien is used to treat insomnia and it is known to be associated with side effects including blackouts and nighttime overeating. One government official blamed his use of Ambien on his 2006 car crash. While Ambien can impact your thought-process, it is more likely to affect your attention and focus. The effects of Ambien on users is similar to the effects of lack of sleep. It is highly unlikely that Ambien caused Roseanne’s. But, when it comes to visual hallucinations, this is a known side effect for Ambien. Again, you don’t want someone behind the wheel while using this drug. When it comes to using Twitter, users are on their own.

What can you do if you believe that your truck accident was caused by a truck driver’s medication use? For one, contact a qualified truck accident lawyer like the Cooper Law Firm in Tyler and Longview, Texas. Our firm can review your truck driver’s medical history and prescription drug use. If a doctor claimed that your driver was safe to use certain prescription drugs deemed unsafe by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, questions may need to be asked. Additionally, sometimes drivers may abuse sleep medication, trying to squeeze a good night’s sleep in between shifts. Unfortunately, residue of the medication can remain in a driver’s blood system after waking. This is where a toxicology report after a crash can be helpful.

If you or a loved one was hurt in a truck accident, you may be entitled to seek damages for your medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Visit our firm at https://www.cooper-law-firm.com/ to learn more about your options and rights.

 

 

Cooper Law Firm

501 N Third St,

Longview, TX 75601

Telephone: (903) 297-0037