Taxi Driver Online

Maybe this should be in that non-UK taxi news thread, but this is quite interesting

And roughly represents one of the reasons I tend not to work into the early hours anymore. (And yet another 3am licence granted in St Andrews to - guess who - yes, Wetherspoon's )

Not that I'd be sued for $40m if anything like this happened...but that's presumably why Uber rather than the driver was sued - in the context of money like that, he won't have a pot to pi$$ in

Also interesting regarding how it intersects with the whole employment status thing...

Although I assume that at present a driver or platform couldn't be sued in the UK regarding an incident like this.

Although I'm sure I've read of drivers losing their badges because of similar incidents.

And, of course, there was the whole North Wales Coroner thing, but in that case there was only criticism of both the firm and the driver, as opposed to any financial, criminal or licensing implications. (As I recall it, at least.)

(Strictly speaking I don't think Uber were 'sued' in the UK sense, but the jurisdiction of the process here is all a bit murky, at least compared to our own system. Which is murky enough.)


Uber ordered to pay $40m over death of woman ejected by driver on freeway

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/ ... er-freeway

California judge finds company ‘vicariously liable’ for driver’s negligence in death of Emily Normandin-Parker

Uber was ordered to pay $40m to the parents of a 23-year-old woman who was killed after a driver kicked her and a friend out of his car by the side of a California freeway, according to newly public arbitration documents.

An arbitrator, retired Calfornia judge Richard A Stone, found that the ride-share company was “vicariously liable” for the driver’s negligence.

In August 2023, two women, Emily Normandin-Parker and Luna Moore, hailed an Uber after a night out in Orange county. The driver pulled over on the 73 freeway after Normandin-Parker vomited in the car, attorneys said. While Moore and the driver argued over a cleaning fee, Normandin-Parker got out of the car, wandered into oncoming traffic and was struck by a car.

Normandin-Parker’s parents accused the driver and Uber of negligence. The company argued it was just “a technology company that provides a software platform connecting riders with independent third-party drivers who perform the transportation”. In California, under Prop 22, Uber and Lyft drivers were categorized as independent contractors – not employees of the companies – a designation the company has used to argue it is not liable for the actions of its drivers. However, the arbitrator rejected Uber’s argument that it should be treated as a platform that merely connects drivers and riders.

In arbitration documents released by the family’s attorney on Thursday, Stone wrote that Uber should be treated as a common carrier – which is any entity or individual that transports people or goods – and thus should be held “vicariously liable” for the incident. Vicarious liability is when one party is held liable for the negligence or actions of another party that it has a relationship with.

“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 documents read. Stone further asserted Prop 22 does “not immunize Uber from vicarious liability for the torts of its drivers stands”.

Uber said that while the company respects the arbitration process, the arbitrator “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,” said Uber spokesperson Gabriela Condarco-Quesada. “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.”

The family further asserted that Uber at one point proposed a settlement that included a confidentiality agreement. As part of that agreement, the family said they would have been charged a $10m penalty any time they spoke about the accident and Uber’s connection to it. The family said they rejected the settlement and Uber said it “ultimately did not pursue confidentiality in this case”.

The ruling to hold Uber liable for the negligence or actions of its drivers is not binding and applies only to this case. However, the case is part of the company’s battle to be treated as merely an online marketplace for rides and in doing so distance themselves from the actions of their drivers by treating them as contractors rather than employees.

This has happened in the uk with tragic results and nothing happened. perhaps the US is now setting a trend so drivers beware if you must kick passengers out not on a major road with no safe footpath

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

I wonder if the coroner might have something to say about the taxi driver's possible involvement in this?

Probably not, but when you consider stuff like the North Wales coroner thing, the driver in the Axel Whats-his-name case, the safeguarding training, bystander stuff etc, you often think that drivers are expected to foresee stuff like this happening and do something to prevent it.

Of course, it was very probably just a standard drop, with nothing obvious amiss. But it does seem an exceptionally odd incident, and clearly police being tight-lipped about the precise circumstances at the moment


Police investigation into the death of three women off Brighton beach concludes

https://www.sussex.police.uk/news/susse ... concludes/

The police investigation into the tragic deaths of three women found off Brighton beach in May has concluded, with no evidence found of criminality or third-party involvement.

At around 5.45am on Wednesday, 13 May, emergency services were called to the beach near Black Rock car park to a report of concern for a person in the water. On arrival, three bodies were sadly recovered from the sea nearby.

The women were formally identified as three sisters from Uxbridge - Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31. Their next of kin were informed, and have been supported by our officers.

From the moment Jane, Christina and Rebecca’s bodies were discovered, specialist detectives have worked tirelessly to trace their final movements and understand how they came to be in the water that morning.

A post-mortem conducted in May has confirmed all three women died by drowning.

The purpose of the police investigation was to identify any evidence of criminal offending linked to how the sisters came to be in the water or their subsequent deaths. We can confirm the thorough police investigation has not found any evidence of a crime being committed or involvement by a third party.

Now the police investigation has concluded, the matter passes to His Majesty’s Senior Coroner to conduct an inquest. The purpose of an inquest is to establish the facts of where, when and how Jane, Christina and Rebecca died.

Police investigation

In the months since 13 May, Sussex Police officers, supported by other forces, have reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV, taken statements from a number of witnesses across the country and conducted other enquiries to establish the women’s movements prior to their deaths.

The police investigation found all three women were dropped off by taxi at Madeira Drive at 10.20pm on Tuesday, 12 May. Their bodies were found at around 5.45am the following morning, wearing everyday clothing. No evidence has been found to suggest they visited any nightclubs or local businesses in the area at the time.

Up to the point of that morning’s tragic discovery, there is no evidence the women came to harm by any individuals. Based on all of the evidence currently available, our investigation has concluded that all three entered the water near to where their bodies were found, and sadly died.

Additional details such as the sisters’ specific movements prior to their deaths and their potential reasons for entering the water will be considered during HM Coroner’s inquest, and it would not be appropriate for us to comment further at this time.

Chief Superintendent Adam Hays said: “From the outset of this complex and challenging investigation, we have been acutely aware of the speculation surrounding this incident, the public’s unanswered questions and their desire for answers.

“Our priority throughout has been uncovering the truth for the loved ones of Jane, Rebecca and Christina, because at this incident’s core there has always been a grieving family coming to terms with an unthinkable tragedy and loss.

“Our investigation has been thorough. Our extensive enquiries intentionally considered concerns raised by black communities surrounding the deaths of black people in or near bodies of water, as we worked to understand who the three women were, and the factors that could have led to them being found on the beach that morning.

“However, our enquiries have now concluded, pending any new information coming to light.

“Jane, Rebecca and Christina’s tragic deaths sparked a national outpouring of grief, and I would like to thank everyone who supported our investigation by coming forward with information.

“We will now support the coronial process and ask that the sisters’ family continue to be given privacy to come to terms with their loss.”

And, as often happens with taxi-related stuff, the taxi angle is emphasised in MEN's rehash here, while it was simply mentioned in the passing in the official Sussex Police press release above.


Three sisters drowned off Brighton beach after taxi drop-off, Sussex Police say

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... h-34646249

Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, were found dead in the sea off Brighton beach in May after being dropped by taxi nearby

And, I mean, if you read this then it conveys the impression that it wasn't just a bit of late night drunken/drugged-up high jinks that went wrong (which was my first guess at the time)


Three sisters drowned after trip to place where their mother died

https://www.brightonandhovenews.org/202 ... ther-died/

Three sisters found in the sea off Brighton all drowned – and with no evidence of foul play, Sussex Police said today (Sunday 20 September).

But the day before they came to Brighton, they travelled to the lake in Birmingham where their mother Janice Adetoro drowned 16 years earlier, their cousin told the Sunday Times.

Loads I could say from very good sources, but I can't.

Other than the taxi driver has nothing to do with it.

What happened is very, very sad, and when what happened does come out, everyone will realise how very, very sad this incident was.

But the answers are in the articles, which the press are very kindly skipping around.

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IDFIMH

Had a feeling you might say something like that, Sussex