Cdl license and seizures

However, some plaintiffs have brought successful cases challenging state commercial driver licensing decisions. In addition, some plaintiffs have successfully challenged their employer's use of the DOT regulations in certain circumstances where they are not required. The mission of the Epilepsy Foundation is to lead the fight to overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy and to accelerate therapies to stop seizures, find cures, and save lives.

Skip to main content. Commercial Truck Driver. Note: Your physician does determine if you can drive with a commercial driver's license CDL. Concern About Impact Concern over the impact of these regulations has increased. Study Shelved DOT had been planning to institute a study of truck drivers with epilepsy in order to determine what profile of driver with epilepsy may be safely licensed.

The Epilepsy Foundation's Position Due to the varied nature of epilepsy, the Epilepsy Foundation opposes arbitrary, across-the-board requirements which treat all instances of epilepsy alike.

Authored Date:. Monday, November 4, If the administrative decision is not favorable, the applicant can request a review by a judge. These requests must be made within a certain time period. Situations that may be considered for restricted licenses may include: Seizures that do not affect consciousness, awareness or control of movement. Seizures occur only during sleep. Seizures that are consistently preceded by an aura. Seizures are restricted to a certain time of the day such as within an hour after awakening.

A change in seizures occurred only when seizure medicines have been reduced or stopped on the advice of a doctor. Check with your state DMV for information required at time of license renewal. Please note that not reporting seizures at this time may leave you open to liability issues. In these states, doctors may be liable for negligence if they fail to report a person with epilepsy who is later involved in a motor vehicle accident.

In states without such laws, however, the question of whether a doctor should report a patient who may be driving unsafely presents a difficult conflict between public safety and the doctor's need to respect the privacy of the patient.

In theory, a physician who reports a patient's condition could be sued for disclosing confidential information. There are some important situations regarding mandatory reporting: When a doctor must report someone may be unclear and vary between states that require physician reporting. For example, do all patients with epilepsy have to be reported to the DMV, those with uncontrolled seizures, or those who may have specific risks or situations?

Mandatory reporting can destroy the doctor-patient relationship. In many cases, those who believe that they "must" drive will lie to the doctor about their condition in order to avoid mandatory reporting and potential loss of the driver's license.

This is the worst of both worlds: the person is not receiving the best medical care and is driving. If the doctor and patient can work together, the seizures are likely to be better controlled, and the person can drive more safely. If a physician fails to report a patient under mandatory reporting laws, they can be penalized with a monetary fine.

However, an accident can lead to a lawsuit charging wrongful death or injury, with a large judgment against the doctor. In states that require mandatory reporting, compliance varies widely among doctors. Doctors who state that it is safe for a person with epilepsy to drive and recommend licensure could also face some liability in case of an accident, although it appears to be minimal.

Your doctor may also suggest tests to detect brain abnormalities, such as: Electroencephalogram EEG. This is the most common test used to diagnose epilepsy. In this test, electrodes are attached to your scalp with a paste-like substance or cap. These include hypertension, respiratory dysfunction, diabetes, vision impairment, epilepsy and mental disorders. Seizures are unpredictable, and even a small one at the wrong time can lead to an injury or death. The best solution, if possible, is to get them under control.

In most states, you must be seizure -free for anywhere from 6 months to a year before you 'll be allowed to drive. In the U. How long they have to be free of seizures varies in different states, but it is most likely to be between three months and a year. Many people with epilepsy are at a high risk of seizures after drinking three or more alcoholic beverages. Research indicates that adults with epilepsy may have one or two alcoholic drinks a day without worsening their seizures or causing changes in the blood levels of their seizure medications.

If your doctor has diagnosed you as having a seizure disorder, states will require that you are treated for that condition with medication designed to prevent seizures and that your seizures are under reliable control before the state will allow you to drive. You can reapply for your licence up to 8 weeks before the date you meet the legal standard for driving.

For most people this date will be 12 months after their last seizure , but this might be different depending on the type of seizures you have. A license may be suspended based on a personal statement or medical report of a seizure within the prior six months. Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Keppra affects you. As with other anticonvulsant medicines, Keppra may cause drowsiness in some people.

Make sure you know how you react to Keppra before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are drowsy. If you have a seizure while you are driving , you could lose control of your car and cause a crash. You could hurt yourself and others. Other types of seizures are caused by a seizure disorder also known as epilepsy , and can happen more than once unless treated with long- term medication.