The crash worthiness of DC Metro system’s older cars may have played a contributing role in Monday’s deady accident. DC’s Metro rail system did not have the millions of dollars necessary to replace or retrofit the cars. These defective and outdated cars, according to the National Transportation Safety Board, should have been replaced several years ago.
Metro has now immediately established a fund of $250 million for the victims’ hospital, funeral and other immediate costs associated with the accident. Yet, how much is a life worth? All of the victims were someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, friend, co-worker or neighbor. How do you measure that loss? How do you place a dollar amount on their life?
Profits should never be placed before people. When the National Transportation Safety Board recommends replacement for safety reasons, what more information do you need? Now Metro is facing the loss of lives and loss of millions from lawsuits to follow.
A new report from the National Highway Safety Adminstration was released on defective General Motors and Chyrsler cars. It estimates that 3400 persons will be either injured or killed from defective vehicles made by Chrysler and General Motors. Yet, the terms of the Chyrsler bankruptcy sale powered through by the Federal government relieves Chrysler of any future or pending claims for injuries or death due to defective Chrysler vehicles. Chrysler gets a free ride on all future death or injury claims due to lack of vehicle safety or crash worthiness. That’s the ultimate profits over people scenario.
What is the value of a life? If you’re unfortunate to be involved in an accident due to a defective Chrysler vehicle, the value of your life will be zero.
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