ALBAWABA - A California judge has found Uber “vicariously liable” for the death of 23-year-old Emily Normandin-Parker after she and her friend were kicked out by their Uber driver mid-ride.
After a night out in August 2023, two women, Emily Normandin-Parker and Luna Moore, hailed an Uber; during the ride, Normandin-Parker vomited in the car which prompted the driver to charge the women a cleaning fee.
An argument ensued that led the driver to pull over in the middle of the highway and kick the drunk women out of his car, Normandin-Parker was fatally hit by a car as she wandered onto the highway.
The parents of a 23-year-old woman who was struck and killed after her Uber driver left her along a Southern California freeway are speaking out after being awarded $40 million in an arbitration against Uber and the driver. For more information, click the link below… pic.twitter.com/xMhbNQHB7T
Normandin-Parker’s parents sued Uber and the driver for negligence, Uber declined responsibility, kicking off a legal battle whereby Uber claimed that it was just “a technology company that provides a software platform connecting riders with independent third-party drivers who perform the transportation.”
According to Proposition 22 in California, ride-sharing app drivers were categorized as independent contractors – not employees of the companies, Uber used this to argue that it cannot be held liable for the actions of an independent contractor.
During arbitration by retired judge Richard A. Stone, however, the company was found “vicariously liable” which is when one party is held liable for the negligence or actions of another party that it has a relationship with.
Judge Stone wrote that the company should be treated as a ‘common carrier’ i.e. an entity or individual that transports people or goods, not a mere software connecting drivers with passengers.
“The fact that Uber uses a digital interface rather than street hails does not change the fundamental nature of the service being offered,” the arbitration said with Judge Stone asserting that Proposition 22 does “not immunize Uber from vicarious liability for the torts of its drivers stands”.
Uber said that it respects the arbitration process but that it “was wrong in holding Uber legally responsible for the tragic events of that night”.
“No family should have to suffer the loss of a child, and our thoughts continue to be with the Normandin-Parker family,
“We have continued to strengthen our approach to safety over the years, through new technology, policies and safeguards informed by safety experts, including additional guidance to drivers about avoiding drop-offs in unsafe locations.” Uber spokesperson Gabriela Condarco-Quesada said.
Pshemaf Choiaqo is a digital marketer with a passion for media, style, and presentation.
He enjoys researching unorthodox and nonconventional subjects almost as much as he enjoys writing about them.
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