Tracy Morgan sustained traumatic brain injury in crash: lawyer

US actor Tracy Morgan sustained a brain injury so severe in a recent crash that he may never again be "the Tracy Morgan he once was", his lawyer has revealed.

Speaking to the Associated Press outside court today, Benedict Morelli said that the fight was not yet over for Morgan, who suffered the brain injury as well as a broken, nose and ribs in the New Jersey crash in June.

"When you have a traumatic brain injury it takes a very long time to find out how you're going to do and how much you're going to recover," Morelli said.

"You just don't know. So that's where he is. He's still fighting and trying to live his life at the same time and trying to get better, and he's just not better.

"We're hoping and praying to get him back to where he was. But the jury's out."

The 46-year-old comedian was hospitalised for several weeks after a limousine carrying his entourage was struck by a Wal-Mart truck, killing James McNair and injuring three others.

Morelli appeared before the court today to determine a schedule for proceedings in Morgan's suit against Wal-Mart.

Truck driver Kevin Roper, who has been charged with McNair's death, was not named in the suit.

An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board found that Roper had been awake for 24 hours and was travelling 32km/h over the speed limit at the time of the fatal crash.

Author: Chloe Ross, Approving editor: Natasha Lee
Source: Associated Press