Medical Card for Truck Drivers

Medical certifications, commonly known as medical cards, are essential for truck drivers to ensure they are physically fit to operate commercial vehicles. Federal and state regulations mandate these certifications to maintain safety on the roads. If your Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP Houston truck accident attorney can prove the driver involved in an accident that hurt you wasn’t medically fit, we can help you obtain significant compensation.

How Truck Drivers Obtain Medical Certifications

Truck drivers must obtain medical certifications to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. These regulations ensure that drivers can physically handle the demands of operating commercial motor vehicles and maintaining road safety.

FMCSA and DOT Regulations

According to these regulations, drivers must undergo a medical examination by a licensed healthcare professional. The examination evaluates the driver’s overall health, vision, hearing, and other physical abilities to ensure they can safely operate a commercial vehicle. These examinations must be conducted by healthcare professionals listed on the FMCSA’s National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME), which includes:

• Doctors of Chiropractic
• Doctors of osteopathy
• Advanced practice nurses
• Physician assistants
• Medical doctors

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Medications That Disqualify Drivers

Certain medications can disqualify truck drivers from obtaining or maintaining their medical certification. The FMCSA has clear guidelines on disqualifying medications to ensure drivers aren’t impaired while operating commercial vehicles. These medications include:

• Habit-forming drugs: Drivers using habit-forming drugs without a prescription or using them in a manner that affects their ability to operate a vehicle safely are automatically disqualified. Many prescription medications can impair cognitive and motor functions.
• Anti-seizure medications: Anti-seizure medications are generally disqualifying unless the driver can provide medical evidence that they have been seizure-free for a specific period (usually one year) without using such medications.
• Methadone and other specific drugs: Methadone, a medication used for pain management and opioid addiction treatment, disqualifies a driver under FMCSA regulations. This is due to its potential to impair cognitive function and reaction times.

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How a Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Can Prove the Driver Wasn’t Medically Fit to Drive

In a truck accident, determining the driver’s medical fitness can be critical to a case’s outcome. A Houston truck accident lawyer can use several strategies to prove that the driver wasn’t medically fit to drive. Here are just a few.

Reviewing Medical Records

Your attorney will obtain the driver’s medical records, including their most recent medical certification examination results. By analyzing these records, your lawyer can identify any potential health issues or medications that should have disqualified the driver from operating a commercial vehicle.

Expert Testimony

Medical experts can testify about the driver’s medical condition and how it could have contributed to the accident. They can also explain the effects of certain medications or health conditions on the driver’s ability to operate a truck safely.

Witness Statements

Witnesses, including co-workers or healthcare professionals who conducted the medical examinations, can provide statements regarding the driver’s health and any known issues that may have impacted their fitness to drive.

Get in Touch with a Houston Truck Accident Attorney to Learn More

Medical cards are vital for ensuring that truck drivers are physically fit to operate commercial vehicles. If you’re hurt in an accident caused by a truck driver with a disqualifying medical issue, contact a Houston truck accident lawyer with Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP. Call (832) 402-6637 or contact us online for a free case review.

Types Of Truck Injury Cases We Handle

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Scott Armstrong obtains remarkable results for his clients. He has successfully tried numerous cases to favorable verdicts and reached significant settlements on his clients’ behalf, recovering millions for them. Our lawyers have 25+ years of combined experience.

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