Uber to Pay $40M to Family of Woman Left on Freeway by Driver

WHO:

BBC - Emily Normandin-Parker, a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles, is the individual involved in the incident.

NY Post - The family of Emily Normandin-Parker is involved in the legal case against Uber.

WHAT:

The Guardian - An arbitrator, retired California judge Richard A Stone, found Uber “vicariously liable” for the driver’s negligence in the case of Emily Normandin-Parker.

The Guardian - The arbitrator's ruling stated that Uber should be treated as a common carrier, which holds them liable for the actions of their drivers.

The Guardian - The arbitration documents indicated that Prop 22 does not immunize Uber from vicarious liability for the torts of its drivers.

The Guardian - Uber proposed a settlement that included a confidentiality agreement, which the family rejected; the agreement would have imposed a $10 million penalty for discussing the accident.

Techmeme - An arbitrator ordered Uber to pay $40 million to the parents of Emily Normandin-Parker after an incident where an Uber driver ordered her out of his car in August 2023, leading to her being fatally struck by a car on a California freeway.

BBC - Uber has been ordered to pay $40 million to the family of Emily Normandin-Parker.

NY Post - The payment is a result of a legal decision following the death of Emily Normandin-Parker when her Uber driver left her on a freeway.

WHERE:

NY Post - The incident occurred on a freeway, although the specific location is not detailed in the articles.

WHY:

BBC - Emily's parents stated, "Emily did everything Uber tells riders to do - she made the responsible choice not to drive and we trusted Uber to get her home safely. That trust cost our daughter her life."

HOW:

BBC - The legal outcome resulted from the circumstances surrounding Emily's death after being left on the freeway by her Uber driver.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 03:57 UTC)

An arbitrator, retired California judge Richard A. Stone, has ruled that Uber is “vicariously liable” for the negligence of one of its drivers in the case involving Emily Normandin-Parker. The ruling classified Uber as a common carrier, meaning they are responsible for the actions of their drivers, and clarified that Proposition 22 does not protect Uber from this liability. Additionally, Uber proposed a settlement that included a confidentiality agreement, which the family rejected; this agreement would have imposed a $10 million penalty for discussing the accident.

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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 00:00 UTC)

An arbitrator has ordered Uber to pay $40 million to the parents of Emily Normandin-Parker following a tragic incident involving an Uber driver. In August 2023, the driver ordered Emily out of the car, which led to her being fatally struck by a vehicle on a California freeway. This ruling underscores the serious consequences of the incident and the responsibility of rideshare companies in ensuring passenger safety.

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(UPDATED September 18, 2026 19:01 UTC)

Uber has been ordered to pay $40 million to the family of Emily Normandin-Parker, who tragically died after her driver left her on a freeway. Emily's parents expressed their heartbreak, stating that she followed all the guidelines Uber provides to riders, trusting the service to safely bring her home. The legal decision stems from the circumstances surrounding her death, highlighting the family's deep loss and the trust they placed in Uber.