[Emp9]

The article doesn't state that the pax behavior got him ejected. Let's sue everyone instead of taking responsibility for ones actions. He also was combative with the home owner and got shot. If I'm the judge case dismissed.

 

[DriverX]

Depends on the situation but he got drunk. He was smart enough to get an uber home.

he didn't attempt to drive himself
He didn't attempt to walk ( and potentially walk in front of a car accidently )

So in this case, no.

He was paying for a ride home because he's that inebriated.

The driver should have known better. If he wasn't comfortable with a drunk driver, cancel when he arrived.. Let another driver handle it.

If at any time he felt threatened, a police station is 10x better than leaving him in the middle of nowhere, particularly since the article quoted the driver to knowing it's not a "safe" neighborhood

Yeah but the argument is that Uber penalizes the driver for canceling trips and not taking drunk passengers, so effectively they are forcing drivers into dangerous situations with drunks. Uber has to eliminate all ratings and tracking of cancellation and acceptance rates for the drivers to be actual independent contractors. Full disclosure of the trip destination information is also that must also be given to a private contractor. They just lost an appeal in California and the fine was increased so its just a matter of time before uber collapses under the weight of the law. Every lawyer who looks at it says they can't win the employee battle with current operations. So expect regulation of the industry soon, the heavier handed the better because real data will be used and factors like a living wage will be accounted for.

 

[rocksteady]

What a load of crap. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? Why don't they sue the seller of the alcohol and the maker of the alcohol as well for killing their stupid kid? How about the government while they're at it for allowing the alcohol to be sold? If a drunk driver, drunk rapist, or drunk murderer is held accountable for his/her actions then this drunk is responsible for his own negligence. None of the defendants broke into the house with him or even told him to(which even then would not put them at fault for his actions). If he called his Mommy all scared, why didn't she come pick him up? I don't think this suit has a chance and I hope none of the defendants settle.

"He was a good kid." He was a 29 year-old fuggin adult. Not some naive child.

 

[Seastriper]

I have kicked passengers out, dropped off in a public location (convenience store)...

 

[AdmiralSnackbar1]

It's a shame that somebody had to loose a life in this situation. Most people here are quick to judge that the driver is in fault here. What if it was the driver that lost his life by getting a beating from the passenger? I used to tell my passengers to behave like it's their own car and at the end of the day I want to be able to put my family in the same seat you sat. It is not a taxi or what ever ride you think you can do what ever you want, it's a personal vehicle and if you misbehave, you are out no matter if it a good or bad area so think of that before you start acting up. The point here is the passenger had an obligation to make sure he is safe after all that drinking and fun was done. There shouldn't be a lawsuit to the driver here if the passenger was acting up and that is why I like in and outside driving cams.

 

[rocksteady]

No, he isn't.

The thing that may hook him is the fact that he was paid for a service (to get passenger from point A to point B).

Clearly he had a problem with the passenger so he ejected the passenger.

He should have dropped off the passenger at a police station, to be in a holding tank, until the passenger (Ryan) sobered up--if he did not feel comfortable dropping Ryan at point B as requested.

But the fact that he (Ryan) was dropped off in the middle of nowhere (so to speak, instead of his destination) was wrong.

Uber should also have strong values in place for their contract workers, that and they have more $$ than the driver which is why I believe they're brought into the (civil?) suit.

Ultimately Uber should have guidelines already in place (if they haven't) of what should be done in case xyz happens. If they already have, clearly it's not conveyed to the drivers clearly or upheld if so.

Either way, Ryan shouldn't have been dropped off in a destination other than what he placed in, esp if he's drunk intoxicated and by himself.

It's a shame that he lost his life because of that.

No, there is no contractural agreement that states the driver must deliver the rider to to the "point B" of the riders choosing. Once the trip is ended, the payment is ended as well. At that point, there is no further obligation. The driver is not accountable for the riders actions after the ride has been ended. If the rider felt he had a grievance, his only course of action would have been to submit a complaint to Uber. The rider was not an unaccountable minor. He was an accountable adult that chose to exercise his right as an adult to drink, his actions are only the fault of his own. Sad that it happened but it's the same as if a drunk walked out into freeway traffic and got killed. The driver/s who hit him/her would not be at fault, nor the municipality who controls the road for not drunk proofing the road. It's the drunks own damn fault.

 

[sellkatsell44]

rocksteady I never said there was a contractural agreement and the trip is ended because the driver choose to end it

But you're right, the driver is with sound mind and can make decisions without being under the influence of substance

Whether as the passenger cannot.

I've stated all along that if, the driver felt it was not a fare he could make safely than hit the cancel fare button (don't y'all love doing that?)

And if, the driver felt halfway through the fare that he didn't feel safe he should call the cops ASAP (isnt that what you do anytime you feel unsafe?)

And if, the driver didn't feel threatened enough that he felt he needed to call the cops then he should have "sucked it up and put his big boy pants" (as I've seen others here say but in different reference) and finish the trip.

The passenger didn't ask to be dropped off at that location

The passenger was drunk and we all know when you're drunk you aren't yourself

There's no excuse

And surprisingly no one feels like this is "morally" the right thing to do.

 

[UberProphet?]

rocksteady

The passenger was drunk and we all know when you're drunk you aren't yourself

Being drunk doesn't change you, it reveals you.

 

[SlowBoat]

http://lbpost.com/news/2000007945-a...-long-beach-man-fatally-shot-by-homeowner-says-uber-needs-new-safety-procedures

Update

 

[forkedover]

Bottom line is an adult got black out drunk and his parents want to profit from his death but not share ANY responsibility.

I have had numerous people get into the car apparently coherent only to start punching the back of my seat, start babbling incoherently profanity or throwing up. I've also had clear headed people fighting in the car and kicked them out exactly where they started fighting, IDGAF where that is, if they don't stop - they get out, period.

I've also dragged people out of the street that just got there ass kicked even though they we flashing a knife when drunk and I've carried drunk gay guys into there homes and made sure they laid down while they try to hit on me after seeing them nearly brain themselves on exit of the vehicle.

No driver working or person outside knows what any other driver goes through or experiences, but the police called the p8x a burglar and thats enough, so it sounds like he had the right idea kicking him out, to bad someone had to shoot him - but maybe his life served as an example to everyone else of what not to do.

 

[Vox Rationis]

Bottom line is an adult got black out drunk and his parents want to profit from his death but not share ANY responsibility.

I have had numerous people get into the car apparently coherent only to start punching the back of my seat, start babbling incoherently profanity or throwing up. I've also had clear headed people fighting in the car and kicked them out exactly where they started fighting, IDGAF where that is, if they don't stop - they get out, period.

I've also dragged people out of the street that just got there ass kicked even though they we flashing a knife when drunk and I've carried drunk gay guys into there homes and made sure they laid down while they try to hit on me after seeing them nearly brain themselves on exit of the vehicle.

No driver working or person outside knows what any other driver goes through or experiences, but the police called the p8x a burglar and thats enough, so it sounds like he had the right idea kicking him out, to bad someone had to shoot him - but maybe his life served as an example to everyone else of what not to do.

Seriously, man, cheers. Great stuff.

 

[howo3579]

As an independent contractor, you can terminate the ride as you wish. If he drops the pax off on a highway and he got run over by car, Uber driver is at fault. But he dropped him off in a neighborhood which i'm sure there's sidewalk. I don't care how you define safe or unsafe neighborhood. The pax was not in danger until someone mug him and that's not driver's fault either if that happened. Breaking in someone's house has nothing to do with the location the driver dropped him off. He can be dropped off in a gated community and still get shot inside of a multi-million dollar house. At best, the parents can only get his fare refunded by the driver.

 

[observer]

http://lbpost.com/news/2000007945-a...-long-beach-man-fatally-shot-by-homeowner-says-uber-needs-new-safety-procedures

Update

Maybe I'm stereotyping or being a little harsh, guy looks like a bum in his pic. Lives with mommy and daddy. Just got a "new" photography job. Drinks himself to the point of being out of control.

If he broke in my house I would not have shot him, (I don't own a gun). But I would most definitely have given him the whooping of his life.

 

[Oc_DriverX]

http://lbpost.com/news/2000007945-a...-long-beach-man-fatally-shot-by-homeowner-says-uber-needs-new-safety-procedures

Update

All the family's lawyer has is hearsay at best, or outright speculation.

 

[rocksteady]

Yes, if he took the passenger to the address, I wouldn't hold him accountable and by the by. Wouldn't his neighbor recognize him?

But that's that.

This is 1) he dropped the passenger off in an unknown spot to the passenger which 2) he admitted is a bad neighborhood

Tell me. If you saw someone drunk on the street passed out, even if you don't want to help take the person to somewhere safe, wouldn't you call the police?

And it takes 2 seconds to dial police and I'm pretty sure a few minutes for cops to arrive if he didn't want to waste gas and mile to the police station.

Go ahead and give me other examples to try and put the blame on the passenger instead of the driver (partial because uber was also in the suit).

Still doesn't change what actually happened and the fact that if you ever find yourself (never say never) that drunk and by yourself, I hope you would be able to find a kinder uber driver than the one in the story.

Your argument is a moral one and not a legal one. You may think that what the driver did was "not right" but that doesn't mean they are legally at fault for the rider's unfortunate actions post-ride. That would be ridiculous. He supposedly called his Mommy because he was scared. Had he just stood there and waited for his Mommy to come pick him up, he'd be alive. The driver did not coerce the rider to brake into a house and get into a confrontation with the owner.

It's amazing to me that any sensible person would think the driver is legally at fault for the actions of an adult no matter what state they're in. You may feel you have a moral obligation to be your "brother's keeper" but in this case the law does not protect those same nanny values.

 

[sellkatsell44]

rocksteady partly

But aren't most drivers here arguing for what is morally right?

Regardless what I say majority won't listen because majority is drivers and it hits home for you guys, the fact that a driver can be legally responsible so I understand the bias

 

[rocksteady]

rocksteady I never said there was a contractural agreement and the trip is ended because the driver choose to end it

But you're right, the driver is with sound mind and can make decisions without being under the influence of substance

Whether as the passenger cannot.

I've stated all along that if, the driver felt it was not a fare he could make safely than hit the cancel fare button (don't y'all love doing that?)

And if, the driver felt halfway through the fare that he didn't feel safe he should call the cops ASAP (isnt that what you do anytime you feel unsafe?)

And if, the driver didn't feel threatened enough that he felt he needed to call the cops then he should have "sucked it up and put his big boy pants" (as I've seen others here say but in different reference) and finish the trip.

The passenger didn't ask to be dropped off at that location

The passenger was drunk and we all know when you're drunk you aren't yourself

There's no excuse

And surprisingly no one feels like this is "morally" the right thing to do.

There are other reasons to end a ride besides feeling safe. Outside of discrimination covered by law, the driver is acting within their rights. Drunkenness is not a protected class. Drunkenness will not hold up in court. Can you imagine the absurdity of a drunk driver killing somebody and his defense is "well, I was drunk. I was not of "sound mind." The person I hit and killed wasn't drunk and was of "sound mind" and so they should have swerved out of the way!" Neither are bystanders under a legal obligation to protect a drunk from themselves except in limited situations like a bar serving a patron who has obviously had too much.. This is not one of those cases.

Here, most are arguing the legal case. You are arguing a moral one that is not in alignment with the law. Since the article is about a legal case, a moral argument is non-sensical. It's okay to let your feelz be your guide, but no need to waste your time making an argument about apples when the topic is about oranges.

 

[SECOTIME]

Lol everyone's suing the shit out of Uber..everyday there is a new one and I'm sure many we don't hear about.

Lol

 

[rocksteady]

rocksteady partly

But aren't most drivers here arguing for what is morally right?

Regardless what I say majority won't listen because majority is drivers and it hits home for you guys, the fact that a driver can be legally responsible so I understand the bias

funny. More of the same rhetorical spinning, absent of facts--pure conjecture. Simply stating it doesn't mean it's right. No elaboration as to how the driver can legally be held responsible for the actions of an adult who was not legally in his care, breaking and entering, resulting in the drunk doofus getting killed, because the driver dropped him off in that area before hand. It's insane that anybody would defend such a stance.

Or maybe regardless of what the majority says, your mind is made up because you insist on being right based purely on ego. "Nah, uh. You guys just can't handle that I'm right!" is the argument of a fifth grader.

 

[sellkatsell44]

funny. More of the same rhetorical spinning, absent of facts--pure conjecture. Simply stating it doesn't mean it's right. No elaboration as to how the driver can legally be held responsible for the actions of an adult who was not legally in his care, breaking and entering, resulting in the drunk doofus getting killed, because the driver dropped him off in that area before hand. It's insane that anybody would defend such a stance.

Or maybe regardless of what the majority says, your mind is made up because you insist on being right based purely on ego. "Nah, uh. You guys just can't handle that I'm right!" is the argument of a fifth grader.

no, it is not just a simple statement.

it IS a matter of fact.

do we even have to get this far if the driver simply canceled the ride?

DRIVER DID NOT.

did we even have to get this far if the the driver had called the cops AFTER kicking the passenger out of the car?

DRIVER DID NOT.

Driver did not even HAVE TO WAIT. cops generally are pretty fast and if they aren't that fast, well, hey, at least the driver called and said, I had a drunken passenger and I felt my life is in danger so I kicked him out of my car EVEN THOUGH THE RIDE WASN'T FINISHED, ya'll might wanna go grab him because unfortunately its night time and the neighborhood (IN THE DRIVER'S WORDS) isn't safe.

i get that you have "your point of view"

But just because YOU feel strongly as well, doesn't mean your point trumps everyone elses' and just because i'm willing to say "agree to disagree" doesn't mean that i'm saying "nah! you guys just can't handle that i'm right!" argument of a "fifth grader".