Tracy Morgan, a well known comedian and actor, who often performs in Los Angeles, suffered very serious injuries in a Walmart truck accident this morning. The accident happened in New Jersey, when a Wal-Mart truck driver apparently lost control of the truck and struck a limousine that was transporting Tracy Morgan, as well as others. Tragically, another comedian, James McNair, knows as Jimmy Mack, who was with Morgan in the limousine, was killed by the Wal-Mart truck.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the driver of the big rig truck, Kevin Roper, may have been dozing while driving, which allegedly caused this tragic big rig truck accident. Bill Simon, the President and CEO of Wal-Mart, expressed his condolences and said that if it is determined that the Wal-Mart truck driver caused the accident, WalMart would take full responsibility.
Morgan and the rest of the passengers were apparently riding in a chauffeured sports utility vehicle limousine that was hit by the WalMart big rig truck. The full extent of Morgan’s injuries is not yet known, but it is reported that his family is with him at the hospital.
After what will be an extensive investigation, most likely headed by the New Jersey Highway Patrol, investigators will have to officially determine who is responsible for causing this truck accident wrongful death. Although Wal-Mart’s CEO said that the store would take responsibility if it is determined that their driver caused the accident, this can be vague and may need to be resolved in court. For example, if Wal-Mart disagrees with a highway patrol finding, they may deny the wrongful death and other injury claims. If they accept liability, meaning fault for the accident, they may disagree on the valuation of the human life that was lost and the other serious injuries. Morgan, for example, may claim extensive loss of earnings and other damages. These types of claims, for an actor like Morgan, are very subjective and will have to be determined by expert witness testimony.
We wish a speedy recovery to all those that were injured, offer our sincere condolences to the deceased and hope that if the Wal-Mart truck driver was at fault, Wal-Mart does the right thing and pays a proper amount of personal injury damages, rather than litigating the matter in court and extending the pain of the families involved.