How Much Is a Human Worth? (according to engineers)
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN commenters cite it as an interesting look at valuing human life, used in safety and liability discussions.
What it is
Practical Engineering explains how engineers and agencies put a dollar value on a human life to weigh cost against safety. It covers the legal and regulatory basis for these calculations.
Recommended by 1 HN commenters across 1 different months, 2023 to 2025.
What Hacker News said
Recommends TriangleEdge · 2023-12 · on “Lapsus$: GTA 6 hacker handed indefinite hospital order”
Seem to me like the prosecution is irrationally scared of something they don't understand. When personal data is leaked, no one gives a shit. I got downvoted to smithereens for commenting on HN that I thought the post about Steve Wozniac being in the hospital was perverted. But if you leak something from a business, then life in prison? People value their life at about $10m. There's a video I found interesting on a YT channel called practical engineering. [this video] .
Cites wtfwhateven · 2023-10 · on “Personal aviation is about to get interesting”
"the safety benefits are not worth the costs" is a determination government agencies already make with many things[1]. [1]: [this video]
Cites fuoqi · 2025-08 · on “Tesla must pay portion of $329M damages after fatal Autopilot crash, jury says”
>I don't think you can apply a price to a human life Not only we can, but it also done routinely. For example, see this Practical Engineering video: [this video]