Personal Injury Law

Big-Rig and Bus Accidents and the Drivers Who Cause Them

By Eddie Farah

Information about who is behind the wheel of a big-rig and bus might have you changing lanes to get away from them on the highway.

A 30-page General Accounting Office study shows that more than a half-million commercial tractor-trailer drivers and bus drivers, with commercial licenses, are also eligible for full disability benefits. That's because they are ill enough to qualify for the benefits. Instead of sitting home, or working other jobs, they are still driving 40-ton vehicles.

There have been plenty of reports of drivers having seizures, heart attacks, or passing out which have led to hundreds of deaths and injuries.

The Transportation Department reports 5,300 died in crashes with commercial trucks or buses in 2006, and another 126,000 were injured.

How does this happen? Drivers can "doctor shop," according to the GAO report, and finally find a friendly doctor who will give them a clean bill of health. Some simply don't mention their health problems when they go for their medical certificate.

While drivers have to make a living and provide a valuable service, there needs to be some reason interjected into the process, such as the suggestion to create a federal databank of medical conditions and treatments, so employers can check on the health of drivers.

Since 2001, there have been none of the eight safety recommendations adopted by the feds and it's very unlikely anything will change before the election.

Until then, just keep changing lanes and getting out of their way.

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on July 24, 2008 (boomark / email).