Ford Motor Company planned to equip its 2020 line of Explorers with Firestone tires. However, Ford conducted several crash tests prior to releasing the new line of Explorers and found that the tires increased the chances of rollovers during crashes, and in turn, the expected fatality rate. Ford’s economists determine that it would cost $600 to put new tires on each Explorer. Doing so would reduce the probability of death in a car accident by .0003. Currently, the value of life used in calculations by the court system and the government is $3 million.
a. If Ford does not put new tires on the Explorers and there is a deadly car acident, would they be negligent under the Hand rule. Why?
b. If the value of life used in calculations by the court system increased to $4 million, what is the most expensive precaution that Ford would have to take in order to not be found negligent under the Hand Rule?