Standard operating procedure for the ambulance chasers. - - - But the way the system is gamed, no one seems to benefit, other than the trial lawyers.
That's what's going on here. Driver? Drunk, almost automatically at fault, but has no money. Other driver, definitely in the wrong, but also not a payout. Tesla? Well-funded company that is constantly under scrutiny. Instead of saying, "I don't know why they have to make a car that does that", he should be saying, "I don't know who else we could sue that would make my lawyer drool and rub his hands together as much."
But then, if I lost a child, I'd probably try to fill that hole with everything I could get my hands on too.
Your argument is flawed. The part about kiosks being cheaper over time is correct, but consider: An increase from $7.25/hr to $10.10/hr, assuming they do not allow overtime, represents a gross income increase of $5,928 per year.
($7.25/hr x 40hrs/wk x 52wks/yr = $15,080; $10.10/hr x 40hrs/wk x 52wk/yr = $21,008; $21,008 - $15,080 = $5,928)
McDonalds is a corporation, and we can assume that they have accountants who are good at math. Those accountants know that $5,928 is the smallest yearly number up there. $15,080 and $21,008 are 2.5 to 3.5 times bigger. Why not get rid of the bigger cost? McDonalds will install kiosks because they can cut $15k from a store's yearly labor cost, not because another $6k makes burger-flippers to expensive.
In other words, automation is inevitable, because it lowers cost and increases productivity, which increases profitability. Raising the minimum wage just lowers the time until they realize a return on their investment.
1 Mole = 007 Secret Agents