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

An arbitrator has ordered Uber to pay $40 million to the parents of a 23-year-old woman who died after being ejected from a vehicle on a California freeway. The incident occurred in August 2023 when a driver forced the passenger out following a dispute. The arbitrator, Richard A. Stone, ruled that Uber is vicariously liable for the driver's negligence, rejecting the company's defense that it is merely a software platform connecting independent contractors. The ruling classifies Uber as a common carrier, asserting that its digital interface does not exempt it from liability for its drivers' actions. While Uber expressed condolences and emphasized its safety initiatives, it maintains that the arbitrator's decision was legally incorrect. This case highlights the ongoing legal battle regarding the classification of gig workers and the extent of platform responsibility for the actions of their drivers.