Google Maps Faces Lawsuit From North Carolina Family After Man's Fatal Plunge Off Collapsed Bridge

Local news outlets report that a North Carolina family has taken legal action against Google, alleging negligence after Philip Paxson, a father of two and medical device salesman, tragically died following Google Maps' directions that led him onto a collapsed bridge.

On a dark and rainy night of September 30, 2022, Philip Paxson was driving home from his daughter's ninth birthday party in Hickory, NC, an area with which he was unfamiliar. As he made his way back, Google Maps allegedly directed him to cross the Snow Creek Bridge, a structure that had given way in 2013 and had not been repaired. The 47-year-old's vehicle plummeted from the unguarded edge of the bridge, crashing 20 feet below. Paxson drowned in the aftermath, a tragedy that Master Trooper Jeffrey Swagger of the state highway patrol confirmed.

His widow, Alicia Paxson, in a poignant statement expressed, "Our girls ask how and why their daddy died, and I'm at a loss for words they can understand because, as an adult, I still can't understand how those responsible for the GPS directions, and the bridge, could have acted with so little regard for human life."

The ensuing lawsuit targets not only Google's parent company, Alphabet but also several private property management companies believed to be responsible for the bridge and the adjacent land. State troopers who discovered Paxson's overturned and partially submerged truck revealed the absence of warning signs or barriers on the eroded roadway. Furthermore, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol mentioned that neither local nor state officials maintained the bridge. Previous barriers, allegedly, had been vandalized and removed.

Leading up to Paxson's demise, Google Maps had allegedly received multiple notifications from concerned citizens, urging them to update its routing information. Specifically, the lawsuit cites email records from a local Hickory resident who, as early as September 2020, tried warning Google via their "suggest an edit feature" that drivers were being directed over the dilapidated bridge. Despite a confirmation email from Google in November 2020 acknowledging the report, it appears no corrective action was taken.

While the emotional and legal turbulence ensues, a spokesperson from Google conveyed their condolences, stating, "We have the deepest sympathies for the Paxson family. Our goal is to provide accurate routing information in Maps and we are reviewing this lawsuit." It's worth noting, however, that as of April 26, 2023, the collapsed bridge was still shown as a traversable road on Google Maps.

As the community grapples with this loss, questions around accountability and technology's role in ensuring safety remain at the forefront. With tech giants like Google under scrutiny, the hope is that such incidents serve as a grim reminder of the real-world implications of digital inaccuracies.

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Take the Next Step

If you or someone you know was involved in the recent accident, it's crucial to be informed about your rights and the legal avenues available to you. Discussing your situation with a law firm that holds a significant presence in Charlotte, North Carolina, can make a world of difference. Remember, reaching out to Rosensteel Fleishman is a step toward ensuring your rights are effectively represented.