Google accused of directing motorist to drive off collapsed bridge

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The family of a US man who drowned after driving off a collapsed bridge are claiming that he died because Google failed to update its maps.

Philip Paxson's family are suing the company over his death, alleging that Google negligently failed to show the bridge had fallen nine years earlier.

Mr Paxson died in September 2022 after attempting to drive over the damaged bridge in Hickory, North Carolina.

A spokesperson for Google said the company was reviewing the allegations.

The case was filed in civil court in Wake County on Tuesday.

Mr Paxson, a father of two, was driving home from his daughter's ninth birthday party at a friend's house and was in an unfamiliar neighbourhood at the time of his death, according to the family's lawsuit.

 

His wife had driven his two daughters home earlier, and he stayed behind to help clean up.

"Unfamiliar with local roads, he relied on Google Maps, expecting it would safely direct him home to his wife and daughters," lawyers for the family said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.

"Tragically, as he drove cautiously in the darkness and rain, he unsuspectingly followed Google's outdated directions to what his family later learned for nearly a decade was called the 'Bridge to Nowhere,' crashing into Snow Creek, where he drowned."

 

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Have yyou got any stories where GPS has led you into problems ? please add your comment below.

[Reginald Prewster]

I paid twice for ending up in an new highway or in Taiwan expressway. 

Blaming Google maps I got the answer, YOU are the operator of YOUR vehicle and if you use maps you use it as an assistant/advisor and not as an instructor, hence fine had to be paid...

 

Claiming google for creating an accident seems a bit odd. 

[LennyW]

How did the human race survive without google maps i wonder.....

[fredwiggy]

I could maybe understand if it was a Tesla and he wasn't actually driving, but you still have to look where you're going when you follow maps. Many times, especially here, google has said in the next 50 meters, make a U-turn, when I was supposed to go straight, or in 50 meters, turn right, into a mountain. Wasn't there a barrier before the collapsed bridge? Sad for him and his family, but a lawsuit?

[Reginald Prewster]

2 hours ago, LennyW said:

How did the human race survive without google maps i wonder.....

If you have an old road map give it to a yougster and ask him/her to fold it as it was when bought...

He/she will fail. 

[billd766]

Did he not look out of the windscreen, or were his eyes glued to the GPS screen?

 

Google maps and GPS are good navigation aids, BUT they are only as accurate as the last update.

[1FinickyOne]

Wasn't the bridge or road closed? There should have been a detour sign and the passage blocked?? 

[billd766]

1 hour ago, 1FinickyOne said:

Wasn't the bridge or road closed? There should have been a detour sign and the passage blocked?? 

If you go off route with your GPS it normally updates its self and gives an alternative route,

[Sophon]

1 hour ago, 1FinickyOne said:

Wasn't the bridge or road closed? There should have been a detour sign and the passage blocked?? 

From the article:
 

Quote

Barriers that were normally placed across the bridge entrance were missing due to vandalism, according to the Charlotte Observer.

 

[hkt83100]

When using Google maps you should not switch off your brain.

[Zaphod]

On 9/22/2023 at 1:15 PM, 1FinickyOne said:

Wasn't the bridge or road closed? There should have been a detour sign and the passage blocked?? 

If there was no signage for road closure,  the family should sue the county/city/dept. Of transportation,  NOT Google.

[daveAustin]

Only in America. ????

Sorry, but it is not a paid-for service and will certainly say so in there tos. You've still got to have your brain activated while driving. That is like blaming the maker of a map in the 'good ol' days after you run into roadworks! 

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, Zaphod said:

If there was no signage for road closure,  the family should sue the county/city/dept. Of transportation,  NOT Google.

agreed.