Our litigious society alleviates the need for personal responsibility

My co-worker's elderly mother was run over by an Alameda County Transit bus driver, who ran a red light. She lost a leg. After the accident she was given a settlement, the amount of which she was unable to disclose. My co-worker was amazed that the driver of the bus, a woman, never called or came to see her mother during her long stay in the hospital. She never even sent a card.

Most of us would feel terrible about running over an old lady, much less causing an injury that resulted in the loss of a leg. I know for a fact that I would have apologised to the woman, face to face, if her family had allowed me to. I would have sent cards and flowers til the cows came home.

The problem is this, no one is allowed to admit guilt any more. Their lawyers would advise against it. If the driver had gone to the hospital to apologise, that would have been an admission of guilt. I am sure the lawyers for the Transit authority cautioned the driver not to admit guilt for fear the incident would go to trial. So the truth, morality and plain common decency were subverted.