Residents in Monmouth County and throughout New Jersey likely recall hearing news about the fatal truck accident last month in which one man was killed and comedian and actor, Tracy Morgan seriously injured. After undergoing multiple surgeries and spending the last several weeks in rehab, Morgan recently went home to continue his recovery. He also, along with three others, took legal action and filed a lawsuit against the owner of the truck that was involved in the accident.
The truck was owned by the multi-million dollar big-box retailer Walmart. According to the lawsuit, Morgan and his fellow passengers were traveling in a limo van along the New Jersey turnpike at approximately 1 a.m. when the accident occurred. As traffic slowed, a 35-year-old truck driver operating a Walmart truck, failed to slow down. While, at the last minute, the truck driver attempted to avoid a collision, it was too late. The tractor trailer slammed into the back of the limo in which Morgan and four other passengers and a driver were traveling.
Fellow comedian, James McNair suffered fatal injuries and died in the accident. Morgan and two other men suffered critical injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital for medical care. Morgan and these two other passengers, along with the wife of one of the men who was eight months pregnant when the crash occurred, have filed a lawsuit in which the plaintiffs’ assert Walmart should have been aware of the fact that their employee had been awake for more than 24 hours.
Individuals who are involved in truck accidents often suffer serious and debilitating injuries. For Morgan, he will likely require months or years of rehabilitation as well as additional surgeries or procedures. While Morgan has the financial means to afford not working for some time, most people who are injured in these types of accidents do not.
Source: Los Angeles Times, “Tracy Morgan released from care, files lawsuit against Walmart,” Javier Panzar, July 12, 2014
CNN.com, “Georgia man charged in wreck that critically injures actor Tracy Morgan,” Ralph Ellis, Joe Sutton and Faith Karimi, June 8, 2014
