Google sued after man fell off collapsed bridge and drowned while driving using Google Maps

On September 19, the family of a man in North Carolina (USA) filed a lawsuit against Google, claiming that the leading technology corporation negligently failed to update information on the Google Maps positioning system, thereby indirectly causing the death of their loved one.

According to AP News, the victim was Philip Paxson, a medical equipment salesman who drowned on September 30, 2022, after plunging into a collapsed bridge nine years ago in Snow Creek, Hickory City (USA). At that time, the man was driving home after attending his daughter's 9th birthday party and is said to have followed Google Maps' instructions because he was unfamiliar with the road.

Philip Paxson’s body was found in his overturned, partially submerged truck. There were no barriers or warning signs along the route he took. According to the lawsuit, he drove 20 feet off a collapsed bridge without guardrails.

The North Carolina State Patrol said the collapsed bridge was not maintained by local or state officials, and the company that was originally in charge has since gone bankrupt. The lawsuit also names several private property management companies that it says are responsible for the bridge and the surrounding area.

The Sept. 19 court filing also includes information from other residents in the area. Many said they had reported the bridge collapse to Google Maps. One Hickory resident used the app’s “suggest edit” feature in September 2020 to alert the company. In November 2020, Google responded by email, acknowledging that it had received the resident’s report and was considering changes. However, the lawsuit claims Google has not made any changes.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Paxson family,” Google spokesman José Castañeda told the AP. “Our goal is to provide accurate directions in Google Maps, and we have reviewed this lawsuit.”