Comedian Tracy Morgan Injured in Semi-Truck Accident
June 17, 2014
Tracy Morgan, the television comedy actor known for his work on “Saturday Night Live” and “30 Rock,” was badly injured recently on the New Jersey highways.
Mr. Morgan was traveling after a performance on his stand-up comedy tour with several other comedians. The luxury limousine bus transporting the entertainers was then hit head-on. The other vehicle involved in the collision was a Walmart semi-truck. After impact, four more vehicles added to the chain-reaction crash on the New Jersey Turnpike in Cranbury Township, NJ.
All of the passengers in the Mercedes-Benz van suffered life-threatening injuries, with Mr. Morgan originally listed in critical condition but then upgraded to fair condition as of June 17.
One of the other comedians traveling with Mr. Morgan, James McNair, died on the scene of the semi-truck accident. The driver of the Walmart truck, Kevin Roper, has been charged criminally. Police charged Roper with “one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto,” according to this news story from the New York Times.
The New York Times article quotes Walmart’s chief executive, Bill Simon, as stating, “This is a tragedy and we are profoundly sorry that one of our trucks was involved. We are working quickly to understand what happened and are cooperating fully with law enforcement to aid their investigation.” The investigation into the crash is ongoing.
When passenger vehicles collide with massive tractor-trailer or semi-trucks, the personal injuries can be overwhelming.
Injured in an Accident?
Like for Mr. Morgan, the time away from work can cause irreversible losses. Mr. Morgan’s reputation as a comedian will probably not suffer as badly as the extent of his physical injuries. However, his career depends on the ability to continue performing on stage.
Some New Jersey residents can’t count on their reputations alone to carry their careers forward. After suffering a semi-truck and car crash, you would likely require time to heal away from work. This could mean lost wages. Medical bills and ongoing therapy demand payments – but who should pay?
If the facts in the Tracy Morgan crash reveal that Walmart could be held vicariously liable for the crash, then Walmart would be responsible for paying for those medical bills. They could also be held responsible for lost time from work, and even loss of enjoyment of life. Even if Walmart had not issued a public statement, the company would still be responsible for personal injuries resulting from an employee’s actions.
If you have questions about personal injury, contact the Law Offices of Anthony J. Vecchio, LLC for more information.
