Family Sues Google Over Fatal Bridge Incident, Alleging Negligence in Maps App
The family of Philip Paxson, a North Carolina man who died after driving off a collapsed bridge, has filed a lawsuit against Google, alleging that the company's Maps application led him to his death. The tragic incident occurred in September 2022 when Paxson was driving home from his daughter's 9th birthday party. According to the lawsuit, Google Maps directed him onto an unmarked, unbarricaded bridge in Hickory, North Carolina, that had partially collapsed in 2013. Paxson fell approximately 20 feet and drowned.
The lawsuit claims that local residents had previously expressed concerns about the hazardous bridge and had notified Google Maps about the issue. Despite these warnings, the application continued to direct drivers over the dangerous route. The suit includes a report made to Google Maps by a woman urging the company to update its navigation system. The woman received an email autoreply from Google Maps stating that her suggestion was under review.
Robert Zimmerman, the Paxson family attorney, stated, “For years before this tragedy, Hickory residents asked for the road to be fixed or properly barricaded before someone was hurt or killed. Their demands went unanswered. We’ve discovered that Google Maps misdirected motorists like Mr. Paxson onto this collapsed road for years, despite receiving complaints from the public demanding that Google fix its map and directions to mark the road as CLOSED.”
In addition to suing Google, the family is also taking legal action against its parent company, Alphabet, and two local companies responsible for maintaining the land and bridge. The lawsuit accuses these companies of negligence and willful and wanton conduct, seeking an unspecified amount in punitive damages.
Google responded to the lawsuit with a statement expressing "the deepest sympathies for the Paxson family" and noted that they are reviewing the lawsuit. CNN has also sought comments from co-defendants Tarde, LLC and Hinckley Gauvain, LLC.
The incident has left the Paxson family devastated. “My daughters spent their first Father’s Day without their Dad. They should have been celebrating and spending time with Philip, who devoted his life to his family. Instead, they had to look across the dinner table and see an empty chair,” said Paxson's wife.
The lawsuit raises questions about the responsibility and accountability of tech companies in ensuring the accuracy and safety of their services. It also highlights the potential risks associated with relying solely on GPS navigation systems, particularly in areas where road conditions may not be adequately marked or updated.
