Should Truck Drivers With Sleep Apnea Be Allowed on the Roads?

Sleep apnea is a serious, life-threatening disorder that causes disruptions during sleep, making its sufferers tired during the day when other people are most alert. The disruptions are caused by pauses in breathing - the sleeper stops breathing or breathes shallowly - and can occur up to 400 times per night in severe cases. The condition is more likely to occur with people who:

• Are overweight
• Are over the age of 40
• Smoke or use alcohol
• Have a large neck - 17 inches for men, 16 for women
• Have a recessed or small chin or jaw

Fatigue is a major cause of commercial truck accidents, leading to injuries and fatalities on California roads. It is estimated that as many as a third of commercial truck driver's license holders suffer from sleep apnea. Symptoms may include extreme fatigue, sleep attacks, reduced reaction times and decreased alertness - a recipe for disaster for anyone on the road with these sleep-deprived drivers.

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that drivers with untreated sleep apnea perform worse on driving tests than drivers whose blood alcohol content is above the legal limit allowed for commercial drivers.

Each state has its own rules about disqualifying commercial drivers diagnosed with sleep apnea. In California, a person is physically qualified to drive a commercial vehicle so long as he or she does not have an established medical history or clinical diagnosis of a dysfunction that interferes with his or her ability to drive safely. However, many drivers will not seek medical attention either from fear of losing their trucking job or believing that it is nothing more serious than simple fatigue. As a result, many truckers have undiagnosed sleep apnea, setting the stage for numerous accidents caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, a driver with undiagnosed sleep apnea may be to blame. Seek the advice of a lawyer experienced with truck driving accidents as you may be entitled to compensation and medical treatment for your injuries.