Comedian Tracy Morgan’s lawyer appeared in court early last week to make a case for his client to receive damages after a truck accident left him with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Five months after the crash with a Wal-Mart truck, Morgan is fighting to get his life back and revive the person he once was.
Attorneys representing the former Saturday Night Live star are arguing negligence on Wal-Mart’s part, after the brutal crash left one dead and their client severely injured. According to the suit against Wal-Mart, the truck driver had driven more than 700 miles and been awake for more than one day.
If proven accurate in court, it would mean that Wal-Mart violated regulations recently set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which set the amount of hours before a truck driver needs to rest. Claims against Wal-Mart also include allegations of speeding, and according to a National Transportation Safety Board investigation, the truck driver was traveling 20 miles an hour over the speed limit at the time of the accident.
Morgan is seeking damages from the major retailer, as the rehabilitation costs and loss income are expected to be significant. Wal-Mart hit back against the charges, arguing that Morgan and his colleague were not wearing seat belts.
Truck Accidents Are Common and Devastating
Truck accidents are usually capable of causing injuries or death to their unfortunate victims. Semi-trucks have the potential to weigh tens of thousands of pounds and often travel at speeds in excess of 40 miles an hour.
In 2011, commercial truck accidents caused 3,757 deaths and 88,000 injuries. New FMCSA guidelines to combat trucker fatigue went into effect in 2013, limiting the number of hours a truck driver could work weekly from 82 to 70. Driver fatigue is a major contributing factor to truck accidents, and the new FMCSA guidelines are expected to reduce the number of fatalities by 1,400 a year.
What Can You Do If You Have Been Hurt?
Injuries sustained during a truck accident can be catastrophic, physically and financially. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, burns, broken bones, spinal cord injuries and neck injuries.
Truck drivers have a responsibility to put safety as their top priority. Negligent driving has the potential to kill other motorists and ruin the lives of those lucky enough to survive an accident. If you have been injured in a truck accident and you have questions about receiving damages and compensation from negligent drivers, contact Spevack Law Firm today and discuss your options.
Spevack Law Firm – Middlesex County Personal Injury Lawyers
[Did You Know?: Driver fatigue is the largest contributing factor to fatal truck accidents.]
