Last year, we discussed the Fatal Car Crash that occurred June 7th, 2014 involving a Walmart truck driver and a limousine carrying Tracy Morgan, who was injured in the incident, and fellow comedians on the New Jersey Turnpike. It has been recently reported that an amicable settlement was reached by both parties and regulations have been updated to promote safer working conditions. In addition to following safety protocols, make sure your company is covered with NJ Business Auto Insurance to protect against legal claims and damage.
Although the exact figures of the settlement have yet to be disclosed, Walmart Stores declared it to be agreeable. The decision was reached March 17, 2015.
To recap: the crash occurred around 1 a.m. when Kevin Roper, a Walmart truck driver, smashed into Tracy Morgan’s limousine on the New Jersey Turnpike last year. The crash resulted in Morgan’s friend James McNair’s death, along with causing Morgan serious head trauma, a broken leg, and broken ribs. Although McNair’s two children received a separate, combined settlement of $10 million, Morgan’s figure is still being kept confidential. According to the report, Roper had been operating the truck without sleep for longer than 24 hours.
The National Transportation Safety Board estimated that Mr. Roper was driving around 65 miles per hour before striking the limousine. What’s more, the speed limit was posted at 45 mph instead of the typical 55 mph because of construction in the area.
Since the accident, truck driver regulations have been updated to reduce fatigue and increase safety. Before any shift, the driver is required to have 10 consecutive hours off and must take a 30 minute break per 8 hours behind the wheel. As truck driver shifts are typically 14 hours, only 11 can be spent operating the vehicle.
This tragedy and its repercussions are an unfortunate example of why business auto insurance should be implemented at all times. Although Walmart is a large corporation and was financially able to compensate the victims, an accident like this could cost you your entire business. At Provident Protection Plus Insurance Agency, we aim to protect a variety of businesses and their assets, including construction companies. For more information about what coverage your construction firm needs, give us a call today at (888) 990-0526.