Curtis Jackson, better known as 50 Cent, was injured in a car crash with a Mack truck on New York’s Long Island Expressway last Monday. A Mack truck rear-ended the bullet proof SUV. The impact was so severe that it almost caused the SUV to flip over. The driver of the Mack truck told the police that the load he was carrying was shifting causing him to lose control and ram in to the SUV.
According to witnesses, 50 Cent was taken from the accident scene on a stretcher with his head and neck immobilized in a brace. He was rushed to the nearest hospital in Queens. 50 Cent suffered from neck and back injuries, but he has already been released from the hospital. The unidentified driver of his SUV was also hospitalized for the truck accident injuries.
Truck drivers and trucking companies have a duty to ensure that their equipment is well-maintained and that loads are properly secured. Driving a big rig truck requires special training. Drivers should also know that the loads they carry can shift and make them difficult to steer. Many serious and fatal truck accidents are caused by negligent driving, improper loading, speeding, failed maintenance, or fatigued drivers.
In this case, the driver and the trucking company could be held liable for the injuries to 50 Cent and his driver. An investigation will also likely determine whether the driver was speeding, under the influence, or if negligence was a factor in the accident. If successful, 50 Cent and his driver may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and any other personal or financial losses they have endured.
Source: Reuters, “50 Cent Injured in Car Crash With Mack Truck,” Andrew Lu, June 26, 2012.