Tragic Accident or Fatal Flaw? Family Files Lawsuit Against Google Maps, Claiming App's Faulty Directions Caused Father's Fatal Plunge
Google faces a lawsuit from a North Carolina family who alleges that their father tragically drove off a collapsed bridge due to the company's Maps app The lawsuit claims that the app's directions led him to his untimely death, resulting in a fatal fall from a height of about 20 feet
The family of a man from North Carolina has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that their Maps application led him to drive off a collapsed bridge in September 2022, resulting in his death. According to the lawsuit, Philip Paxson was using Google Maps to navigate home after his daughter's 9th birthday party when the app instructed him to cross an unmarked and unbarricaded bridge that had already collapsed years ago.
According to the lawsuit, Paxson perished after driving off the unsecured side of the bridge in Hickory, North Carolina, and subsequently drowning. The legal claim contends that residents had previously voiced apprehension regarding the guidance provided by Google Maps, as it supposedly directed motorists over the bridge, which has reportedly remained unrepaired since its partial collapse in 2013.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - MAY 15: Google Headquarters is seen in Mountain View, California, United States on May 15, 2023. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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"Hickory residents had been pleading for the road to be repaired or properly barricaded prior to this tragic incident, fearing that someone would eventually get hurt or killed. Regrettably, their appeals fell on deaf ears," stated Robert Zimmerman, the attorney representing the Paxson family. "To our dismay, we have discovered that Google Maps consistently misdirected motorists, including Mr. Paxson, onto this collapsed road for an extended period of time. This was despite repeated complaints from the public urging Google to rectify their map and directions by marking the road as CLOSED."
According to the lawsuit, concerned residents had informed Google Maps about the dangerous bridge, yet the application persistently guided drivers across it. The lawsuit also cites an incident where an individual had contacted Google Maps, requesting an update to their navigation system. However, CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of this evidence.
The report sent to Google Maps states, "The road is inaccessible and poses a risk for emergency vehicles due to GPS misguidance. Kindly update the map for accuracy."
According to the court filing, the woman received an email autoreply from Google Maps, acknowledging her report: "Thank you for sharing your knowledge. We are currently reviewing your suggestion and will notify you once the changes are published."
In addition to suing Google, the family is also taking legal action against Alphabet, the parent company, and two local companies believed to be responsible for maintaining the land and bridge. The family claims that these companies failed to install proper barricades and warning signs, neglected to repair the bridge, and did not provide hazard warnings. The lawsuit alleges negligence and deliberate misconduct on the part of these companies and seeks unspecified punitive damages. When approached for comment, Google expressed its condolences to the Paxson family and stated that they are currently reviewing the lawsuit. CNN has reached out to Tarde, LLC and Hinckley Gauvain, LLC, the co-defendants, for their response.
People make their way in front of the Google offices on July 04, 2022 in New York City.
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According to the suit, Paxson's wife, Alicia, and their two daughters, aged 9 and 7, are left behind. In a statement shared by her lawyers, Alicia Paxson expresses the family's desire to ensure their voices are heard. She laments that her daughters had to spend their first Fathers Day without their dedicated father, Philip, and instead had to face an empty chair across the dinner table.
"Our daughters inquire about the circumstances surrounding their father's death, and I struggle to find the right words that they can grasp. Even as an adult, I fail to comprehend how the individuals accountable for providing GPS directions and constructing the bridge could have displayed such disregard for human life," expressed Paxson.
"Nobody should have to endure such a tragic loss."
Philip, like countless drivers, relied on Google Maps to navigate his way back from the children's birthday celebration," stated family attorney Larry Bendesky. "Tragically, his unwavering faith in Google Maps, coupled with the negligence of the road and bridge authorities, ultimately resulted in his untimely demise."
