Fighting DVLA for my licences/job. Should I give up?

[chilistrucker]

Hi all. Put several posts in various ph forums about my situation over the last 5 months.
It all started on the 17th May when I had a fall and received some pretty major head injuries, perforated eardrum, 2 skull fractures and 3 internal bleeds on the brain
I fully understand that I'm lucky to be alive, with no adverse affects.
BTW, lorry driver by trade.My car and truck licences were revoked which I fully understood and had no problem with. On the 27th of August I finally got the all clear from my neuro surgeon that the injuries had all healed and in his opinion I was fine to return to driving and he would inform the DVLA of this when they wrote to him. Whilst this was ongoing, (as everything takes weeks to sort) I was offered a job. I phoned DVLA for an update as I was itching to get back to work and was told by them, (this was the 8th of September) that my licences on their system were no longer revoked and as I had the all clear from a nuero specialist I could return to work which I did on the 11th September.
Sadly on the 19th of September the DVLA medical board wrote to me telling me they disagree with my neuro consultant as because of my injuries I "may" be at risk of having a seizure and so on the 20th of September they revoked my licences yet again.
I have been fighting this ever since, by speaking to my consultant and GP, writing to the DVLA and even getting my MP involved, but despite all of this I have drawn a blank. The DVLA replied to my MP highlighting in their opinion the "risk" of seizure, that both my GP and consultant disagree with.
The DVLA have just pigeonholed me into their "risk of seizure" box and refuse to be budged.

TBH the most recent letter from the DVLA to my MP was pretty soul destroying, I am sick to death of fighting the system, its not just the DVLA, I've also had endless hassles with the D.W.P and my local council but these are separate stories.

I think I've covered all the bases I can in fighting this but am still going to visit the C.A.B incase there is something I've missed? The media maybe, but are they really going to be interested?

So, any thoughts from anyone on here? Have I missed anything, is there another avenue I should go down or should I just hang out the white flag and give up fighting?
I don't want to give up, but feel pretty much at rock bottom right now over all of this, and open to any suggestions, well apart from Beachy Head as I thought of that but havn't got a licence to be able to drive down there with.

[Sogra]

Nothing like as bad as you had but similar in 2003 having been in an accident with various injuries and complete loss of use of my left arm and low level brain damage. Nobody would say I could drive so paid for a test myself with Claterbridge hospital near Birkenhead who asses stroke victims and similar like epilepsy etc.

Once I had a letter from them and an assesment report then all the problems went away. This was for a car and I know the HGV requirements are much stiffer but may be worth investigating.

Have to say the examination was very substantial over about 2 hours and included lots of tests including a driving exercise in the hospital grounds.

Good Luck

[Puggit]

I would suggest there would be a legal angle concerning the EU right to earn a living laws. I'm no legal bod, but as you say it smacks of 'computer says no' syndrome.

Good luck!

[AvonRise]

Probably not what you want to hear, but I suspect you'll need to give it 12 months from the all clear before getting your licence back.

Not good for you, but I fully understand why the DVLA are exceedingly cautious, especially for LGV drivers.

[mph1977]

as avon rise says at least 12 months for both group 1 and group 2 licences, possibly longer longer for your group 2s ...

Chillistrucker - did you actually have any seizures? and are you on any meds that could be used as anti convulsants or have an effect on your seizure threshold ...

[chilistrucker]

mph1977 said:

as avon rise says at least 12 months for both group 1 and group 2 licences, possibly longer longer for your group 2s ...

Chillistrucker - did you actually have any seizures? and are you on any meds that could be used as anti convulsants or have an effect on your seizure threshold ...

Thanks all for the replies, very much appreciated.

No I didn't have or have ever had any seizures before, during or after the fall and injuries!
The dvla are saying from the date of fall it's 6 months for car and 12 months for LGV licence!!!
So still 1 and 7 months to go

I understand they have to have procedures in place, but everyone should have the right to have their case looked at as an individual but the dvla are not interested, it stinks.
Puggit is right, computer says no.

I will try C A B next aswell as the FTA freight transport association, I may never win, but not done trying yet!

[gus607]

My HGV was revoked on medical grounds,fair enough. What really gets up my nose is the way the DVLA work, far too slow, you the customer don't matter.

[Fer]

gus607 said:

My HGV was revoked on medical grounds,fair enough. What really gets up my nose is the way the DVLA work, far too slow, you the customer don't matter.

And they play the "due to heavy workload" we won't reply for 9 weeks. Don't call us.

[chilistrucker]

They took 3 weeks to reply to my MP and that got me no where