Since his horrific accident last summer, we have chronicled the plight of comedian Tracy Morgan as he attempts to recover from the injuries he suffered when the limousine van he was riding in was struck by a Wal-Mart semi-truck. In the midst of his recovery, he filed a lawsuit claiming that Wal-Mart was negligent for allowing a driver who had not slept in more than 24 hours to be behind the wheel of the truck that crashed into him.
Wal-Mart initially countered with the allegation that Morgan’s injuries (as well as the injuries to his entourage) were caused because they were not wearing seatbelts. This allegation suggested that a long, drawn out legal battle was imminent.
Nevertheless, it appears that legal posturing has given way to common sense, as it has recently been reported that Wal-Mart and Tracy Morgan have reached a settlement. While the exact terms of the settlement have not been disclosed, it is reasonable to suspect that there will be a significant monetary payment to Morgan to compensate for his injuries as well as his medical expenses.
Since the accident, Morgan has rarely been seen in public, and even skipped the 40th anniversary celebration for Saturday Night Live earlier this year. It is also unknown whether he will work regularly again.
The story is important in putting into context the factors that go into creating a reasonable monetary settlement. After all, the law allows injured parties to seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income and rehabilitation expenses, among other costs.