Tracy Morgan Car Accident: Legal Settlement and the Fight Against Driver Fatigue

June March 7, 2014, Tracy Morgan announces a settlement with Wal-Mart in connection with the fatal tractor-trailer accident that occurred. In the accident, Morgan suffered serious injuries, including broken bones and a traumatic brain injury, as a result of a collision with a limousine of a speeding truck on a toll road in New Jersey. The accident resulted in the death of Morgan’s friend and fellow comedian, as well as critical injuries to two other passengers. The truck driver employed by Wal-Mart had been awake for more than 24 hours at the time of the accident. Criminal charges against the driver were still pending.

While the specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed, Morgan stated that Wal-Mart took full responsibility for the wreckage. However, the larger issue of overworked and untrained truck drivers remains a persistent problem. These drivers are often encouraged to drive long hours at high speeds, which leads to increased risks of accidents and fatigue-related incidents.

Efforts to address driver fatigue and improve safety have faced political resistance. Congress has passed a spending bill (H.R. 2577) that suspends the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) “34-hour restart rule” for the second time. The bill also allowed 33-foot-long double-Decker vehicles to be used on interstate roads, which stymied state law. The restart rule had previously limited drivers to 70 hours of driving per week and required a 34-hour rest period once that limit was reached. Under the suspension, the rule will be reinstated only if a federal impact study shows improvements in safety, operator fatigue, driver health, longevity and work schedules.

President Obama expressed his opposition to the passage of H.R. 2577 in a statement released on June 1, 2015. The administration objected to the bill’s language blocking data-driven changes aimed at improving safety by eliminating truck driver fatigue.

Tracy Morgan’s involvement in a truck accident with a Wal-March truck driver sparked a broader debate about trucking laws in the United States. The accident occurred on June 7 and resulted in Morgan’s critical injuries and the death of another comedian, James Mcnair. According to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board, the Wal-March driver was tired, speeding and nearing the end of his permitted driving time.

On July 1, 2013, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced new regulations to combat driver fatigue and improve safety. These Decrees included reducing the maximum average working week for truck drivers from 82 hours to 70 hours, a mandatory 34-hour rest period after reaching the maximum driving hours, and a 30-minute break in the first 8 hours after a shift.

However, in June 2014, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted 21 to 9 in favor of suspending these regulations and conducting a study to assess their operational, safety, health and fatigue effects. This decision faced opposition from politicians such as Senator Cory Booker, who advocated for the preservation of truck safety regulations. On the other hand, representatives from the trucking industry, such as Dave Osiecki of the American Trucking Associations, supported the suspension, claiming that regulations forced truckers to drive during daylight hours, causing delays in shipments and congestion during rush hours.

In general, the safety regulations of the trucking industry and the balance between driver welfare, public safety and industry efficiency have been issues of ongoing debate and Deconfliction.