by As a car accident lawyer in New York, we’ve seen firsthand how potentially life-changing injuries sustained in car accidents can be.
Car accidents injure thousands of New Yorkers, but some incidents garner more attention than others due to the individuals involved.
Worst Celebrity Car Accidents
In this post, we’ll be going through some of the worst celebrity car crashes that have been seen in the streets of New York and beyond, serving as a stark reminder that even the rich & famous can succumb to the unpredictability of life.
George Lucas (1962)
This car crash has arguably had one of the most profound impacts on the modern world. Before George Lucas became the man we know today, he lived, breathed, and dreamed about cars for most of his teenage years. However, on June 12th, 1962, just a few days before his high school graduation, Lucas was broadsided by a Chevy Impala coming from the opposite side of the road while he was driving his souped-up Autobianchi Bianchina.
The car had flipped several times before crashing into a giant walnut tree. Although George sustained some serious injuries, he survived the incident thanks to his seatbelt snapping and ejecting him from the car. During his time at the hospital, it became clear to George that he would never be a racing driver, which ultimately led him down the path to create the story of the Galaxy far, far away.
Eric Roberts (1981)
The famous actor who is also the brother of Julia Roberts was involved in a particularly bad car accident in 1981. As a result of this accident, he went into a three-day coma and took months to recover from a range of injuries that included facial trauma, brain tissue bruising, and numerous bone fractures.
Billy Martin (1989)
Baseball fans will recognize Billy Martin as the celebrated baseball player and manager who led the Yankees to their 1977 championship win. He was tragically killed on Christmas Day when his pickup truck skidded on an icy road near Martin’s farm in Fenton, New York. The driver of the pickup truck, William Reedy, was charged with a DUI.
Michael Phelps (2009)
America’s most decorated swimmer was involved in a car accident in 2009 when the other vehicle,’ driven by Amanda Virkus, ran a red light and crashed into Phelps’s car. Although neither party sustained serious injuries, Amanda was found responsible for the accident, and Phelps was cited for driving without a valid license.
Ryan Dunn (2011)
The American TV personality and stuntman best known for his work on the MTV show ‘Jackass’ was killed in a car accident when he lost control of his Porsche 911 GT3. The vehicle crashed into a guardrail at high speed, overturned, and burst into flames. Both Dunn and his passenger Blake Hartwell were pronounced dead at the scene. It was later found that Dunn’s blood alcohol was twice that of the legal limit at the time of the crash.
Paul Walker (2013)
The crash that resulted in the death of Fast and the Furious star is arguably the most famous car crash of the early 2010s. He, along with his friend, lost their lives when their red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT crashed into a utility pole and several trees while going 90 mph.
Tracy Morgan (2014)
On June 7th, 2014, a Wal-Mart truck driver crashed into a limousine near the Jersey Turnpike. The passengers of the limousine included Tracy Morgan, the star of NBC’s ‘30 Rock,’ and actor and comedian James McNair. The crash resulted in Morgan sustaining severe life-threatening injuries, while McNair unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. After the accident, Morgan filed a personal injury lawsuit against Wal-Mart for compensation. The suit also provided that Wal-Mart had failed to enforce hours-of-service regulations set out by the FMCSA.
Kevin Hart (2019)
On September 1st, 2019, Kevin Hart and his driver, Jared Black, sustained serious injuries in a car accident that, according to the California Highway Patrol, was deemed to have been caused by Jared Black’s reckless driving. Hart suffered significant back injuries, and surgeons had to rebuild a portion of his spine with metal implants.
Justin Timberlake (2024)
Justin Timberlake is the most recent celebrity featured in the news in relation to traffic offenses. He was pulled over by police and was charged with a DUI.
Although Timberlake and his attorney maintain that he was not under the influence, the police report tells a different story. The incident also caused the judge to suspend Timberlake’s driving privileges in New York.
Conclusion
No matter how rich or famous a person might be, they are not immune from the unpredictability of life.
As a personal injury law firm in NYC, we’ve seen how accidents can radically alter a person’s life, and we hope what we’ve mentioned above becomes a cautionary reminder.
If you’re involved in a car accident in New York, you may be able to claim compensation, but this is easier said than done without the help of an experienced accident lawyer in New York.
Do not delay—call Gabriel Law at (212) 497-2421 and schedule your free consultation.
