4 ms·

Does it matter if the driver was in a Uber, Taxi or a personal car? It was a regular human in a regular car.

sliverstorm 13y ago
To my understanding, if a taxi driver was to strike a pedestrian, the taxi company would be liable, because the driver was operating for the taxi company. Even though a taxi driver is pretty much a regular human, and a crown vic in taxi-yellow is pretty much a regular car.
- razius 13y ago
  American laws never cease to amaze me of their stupidity.
  - sliverstorm 13y ago
    It's not as stupid as you suggest. The actions of your employees, while on company business, are basically actions of your company. Example: High-risk oil drilling operation off the coast. Engineer drops a wrench, wrench breaks a pipe, thousands of gallons of oil flood into the ocean. Do we hold the engineer liable for a billion dollars in environmental damages, because he just dumped oil in the ocean? Or do we hold the company liable, because they were engaging in oil drilling that inherently risks dumping oil in the ocean?
- bedhead 13y ago
  Unless it crosses into criminal, then you are correct.
  - sliverstorm 13y ago
    Right, criminal is a separate beast.
- Dylan16807 13y ago
  Taxis drive around looking for people to pick up. An uber driver simply has to be logged in and be near their car, ready to drive.
thwest 13y ago
Does it matter if the operator was an employee of Tazreen Fashion, or self employed tailor? It was just a regular human in a regular fire. Does it matter if the miner was an employee of International Coal Group, Inc, or if he was digging in his own backyard? It was just a regular human in a regular mine explosion. The point of these counter examples is that accidents resulting from industrial activity are certainly morally tied to the corporation that is profiting off said activity. Uber is taking regular drivers, and putting them in a totally non-regular working environment. There are psychological effects to sitting in a drivers seat for hours and hours that regular commuters don't experience, yet Uber is not training their drivers for this. Being responsible for the accidents your economic activity encourages is part of the bargain of Incorporation. To operate otherwise would encourage trading safety for profitability in the most extreme ways.

To my understanding, if a taxi driver was to strike a pedestrian, the taxi company would be liable, because the driver was operating for the taxi company. Even though a taxi driver is pretty much a regular human, and a crown vic in taxi-yellow is pretty much a regular car.

razius 13y ago
American laws never cease to amaze me of their stupidity.
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  It's not as stupid as you suggest. The actions of your employees, while on company business, are basically actions of your company. Example: High-risk oil drilling operation off the coast. Engineer drops a wrench, wrench breaks a pipe, thousands of gallons of oil flood into the ocean. Do we hold the engineer liable for a billion dollars in environmental damages, because he just dumped oil in the ocean? Or do we hold the company liable, because they were engaging in oil drilling that inherently risks dumping oil in the ocean?
bedhead 13y ago
Unless it crosses into criminal, then you are correct.
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  Right, criminal is a separate beast.
Dylan16807 13y ago
Taxis drive around looking for people to pick up. An uber driver simply has to be logged in and be near their car, ready to drive.

thwest 13y ago

Does it matter if the operator was an employee of Tazreen Fashion, or self employed tailor? It was just a regular human in a regular fire. Does it matter if the miner was an employee of International Coal Group, Inc, or if he was digging in his own backyard? It was just a regular human in a regular mine explosion. The point of these counter examples is that accidents resulting from industrial activity are certainly morally tied to the corporation that is profiting off said activity. Uber is taking regular drivers, and putting them in a totally non-regular working environment. There are psychological effects to sitting in a drivers seat for hours and hours that regular commuters don't experience, yet Uber is not training their drivers for this. Being responsible for the accidents your economic activity encourages is part of the bargain of Incorporation. To operate otherwise would encourage trading safety for profitability in the most extreme ways.