If Medications and Drugs Are Some Of the Main Causes Of Truck Crashes, Why Do Truckers Continue to Get Certain Medications Prescribed by Their Doctors?

A: According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulations that are in place, truck drivers are prohibited from taking certain prescription drugs. These may include narcotic or habit-forming drugs, methadone, amphetamine, or any anti-seizure drugs. Additionally, truckers are not allowed to drive their rigs while taking prescription medications without a prescription from a licensed doctor.

The rules are set in place so that a trucker may only receive medications by a licensed practitioner who knows the truck driver’s medical history and his nature of work. Because of the risk that a trucker may fall asleep during the many hours of driving, the medication a truck driver receives should not interfere with a truck driver’s ability to operate a semi truck safely.

The trucking industry requires trucking companies to conduct drug and alcohol tests on truck drivers at random times. However, many truck drivers have purchased synthetic urine to pass such drug tests or will find a way to get around it. This behavior is unacceptable, and negligent truck drivers should be held accountable for causing preventable truck wrecks and injuries to innocent motorists.

Although there are rules in place to limit this behavior, some truck drivers will continue to get their hands on such drugs and will continue taking drugs in combination with over-the-counter medications. Because truckers continue to be pressed for time to meet their deadlines, many will continue to take over-the-counter stimulants to try and stay awake on the road. However, this bad behavior has dangerous consequences that could lead to a South Florida truck crash.

If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a South Florida truck accident due to the negligence of a truck driver, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact a skilled Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer at the Law Offices of David Benenfeld to find out if you have a case and how to go about protecting your rights. Call us for a free, no-obligation discussion at 954-677-0155 today.