Google Faces Lawsuit Over Car Plunge Off Collapsed Bridge

The family of Philip Paxson, a North Carolina man who tragically lost his life after his car plunged off a collapsed bridge while following Google Maps directions, has filed a lawsuit against the tech giant, alleging negligence. The suit contends that Google had prior knowledge of the bridge collapse but failed to update its navigation system.

Philip Paxson, a medical device salesman and a father of two, met his untimely demise on September 30, 2022, when his Jeep Gladiator veered into Snow Creek in Hickory. The lawsuit, filed in Wake County Superior Court, not only seeks accountability but also raises questions about the responsibility of tech companies when providing navigation services.

The circumstances surrounding Paxson's accident were particularly tragic. He was directed by Google Maps to cross a bridge that had collapsed nearly a decade earlier and had never been repaired. The lawsuit underscores the need for answers, especially for Paxson's two daughters, who are struggling to comprehend the circumstances of their father's death.

When state troopers arrived at the scene, they found Paxson's overturned and partially submerged truck. Shockingly, there were no barriers or warning signs indicating the bridge's perilous condition. He had unwittingly driven off an unguarded edge and crashed about 20 feet below, according to the lawsuit.

The North Carolina State Patrol determined that the bridge was not maintained by local or state authorities, and the original developer's company had dissolved. However, the lawsuit goes further by naming several private property management firms, which it claims bear responsibility for the bridge and the adjacent land.

One crucial aspect of the lawsuit is the allegation that numerous individuals had alerted Google Maps about the bridge's collapse in the years leading up to Paxson's tragic accident. These concerned citizens had urged the company to update its route information. The court filing includes email records from a Hickory resident who, in September 2020, used the "suggest an edit" feature to report the issue. A confirmation email from Google in November 2020 acknowledged receiving the report, but the lawsuit asserts that Google took no further action.

In response to the lawsuit, Google spokesperson José Castañeda expressed sympathy for the Paxson family and stated, "Our goal is to provide accurate routing information in Maps, and we are reviewing this lawsuit." This case raises significant questions about the responsibilities and liabilities of tech companies when it comes to the accuracy and currency of the information they provide through their mapping and navigation services.

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