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Pedestrian Follows Google Map, Gets Run Over, Sues

Posted by Soulskill on from the america-amazes-me-sometimes dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "The Toronto Star reports that a Utah woman is suing Google for more than $100,000 in damages, claiming its maps function gave her walking directions that led her onto a major highway, where she was struck by a car. Lauren Rosenberg sought directions between two addresses in Utah about 3 kilometers apart and the top result suggested that she follow a busy rural highway for several hundred meters. The highway did not have sidewalks or any other pedestrian-friendly amenities, and Rosenberg was struck by a car. Rosenberg filed suit against both the driver of the car that struck her and Google, claiming both carried responsibility in her injury. Her lawyers claim Google is liable because it did not warn her that the route would not offer a safe place for a pedestrian to walk. Google has pointed out that the directions Rosenberg sought come with a warning of caution for pedestrians, but Rosenberg claims that she accessed the Maps function on her Blackberry mobile device, where it did not include the warning."

16 of 699 comments (clear)

  1. For serious? by millennial · · Score: 5, Insightful

    People walk on busy highways without sidewalks and think they're going to be perfectly safe? Why on earth would a thinking person even consider going by that route?

    --
    I am scientifically inaccurate.
    1. Re:For serious? by snowraver1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I would take that route if is saved me time. I would also be cautious and watch for traffic. People walk along highways all the time without incident, she was either inattentive or unlucky.

      Should google have to write warnings for all dangers? WARNING: You are about to cross the road. Our records show that this intersection has a crosswalk. Please wiat until the red hand turns into a white funny-looking guy before proceeding. Be sure to check both ways for traffic before stepping onto the road. Be aware that there may be other pedestrians crossing the road. Be sure not to collide with them. Caution! Be aware that there may be open manholes! DO NOT step on a manhole that has it's cover removed. For a full list of applicable warnings, please go to www.google.ca/pleasetiemyshoes/

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      Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. This comment may not be copied in any way including, but not limited to caching.
    2. Re:For serious? by timeOday · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yes, it's absurd. But remember, she hasn't won anything yet, just filed a suit. And anybody can file a suit claiming almost anything. I think I will save my vitriol for the legal system until/if she wins.

    3. Re:For serious? by Spatial · · Score: 5, Informative

      Warning: Breathe regularly to prevent asphyxiation.

      Caution: If you are undergoing fluid immersion, avoid breathing temporarily to avoid drowning.

    4. Re:For serious? by sjames · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The absurd part is that Google is now obligated to expend resources to answer this groundless suit. Even in winning, they'll lose.

    5. Re:For serious? by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Funny

      Breathe regularly to prevent asphyxiation.

      Now you tell me. -- David Carradine

    6. Re:For serious? by CronoCloud · · Score: 5, Informative

      Paris has a disadvantage compared to Chicago...history. Paris was a city when Chicago was a marsh full of wild onions.

    7. Re:For serious? by LordLimecat · · Score: 5, Interesting
      Google DOES warn of dangers. The defendant claims...

      Rosenberg claims that she accessed the Maps function on her Blackberry mobile device, where it did not include the warning.

      Which is utter bull, I have google maps 3.2.1 on my blackberry and it certainly DOES warn you of dangers while following their directions. You also have to agree to a EULA when you launch it for the first time, which I imagine disclaims any liability.

    8. Re:For serious? by PaulBu · · Score: 5, Funny

      if Google had told her jump on a bridge...

      So, *this* is why they removed "Swim across the Atlantic Ocean -- 3462 miles" as part of the route to go from Boston, MA to London, UK! ;-)

      Paul B.

  2. good thing by ionix5891 · · Score: 5, Funny

    she didnt press "im feeling lucky" button so

  3. Re:Um. by nospam007 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In my opinion she has the right to be refunded all the money she paid for using google maps.

  4. Empathy by Unoti · · Score: 5, Funny

    My thoughts on this article were influenced by my low empathy score.

  5. Whatever happened to common sense? by illumnatLA · · Score: 5, Informative

    Really... jeeze... What ever happened to common sense. If it looks dangerous... it probably is. If her Blackberry told her to insert her arm into an industrial shredder would she have done that as well?

    Take a look at this... this is the road in question... There was plenty of room on the left side of the street to walk without being anywhere near the road.

    I really hope this gets thrown out of court. People need to take responsibility for their own stupidity.

    --
    Web hosting that doesn't suck!Dreamhost
    1. Re:Whatever happened to common sense? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      "Take a look at this... this is the road in question... [google.com] There was plenty of room on the left side of the street to walk without being anywhere near the road."

      It's much worse than that. There's a walking/cycling trail that parallels most of her route, if the route indicated on the map is correct. Take a look. In many cases it was only a few steps from the road. She could SEE a safe, non-car route paralleling hers, but did not avail herself of it. From the described route, she walked right past the entrance to the trail and stayed on the road. She took the "industrial shredder" option by following the blue line instead. Maybe you could fault Google for not pointing out the trail, but it was RIGHT THERE in plain sight. No, I'll stay on the busy road with no sidewalk.

      I'm sure the locals and the municipality are saying "Why the !#%!%$! did we build these stupid trails if people aren't going to use them?"

    2. Re:Whatever happened to common sense? by vlm · · Score: 5, Interesting

      LOL! What a greedy AND stupid bitch.

      Its important to determine if SHE filed suit or if her medical insurer filed suit on her behalf to recover costs.

      I have never personally filed a lawsuit against anyone, but both my wife and I have, in separate accidents, had our cars hit by uninsured drivers (thankfully no injuries) and both times the insurance company filed suit on our behalf to recover the money they paid to repair / replace our cars using our collision policy. For the accident 7 years ago, it took like 3 years but they finally recovered all their costs and reimbursed us our deductible, and the other accident a couple months ago is still ongoing. I would expect automotive medical claims to work the same way...

      --
      "Science flies us to the moon. Religion flies us into buildings." - Victor Stenger
  6. Re:I'm sorry but... by baboo_jackal · · Score: 5, Funny

    but she did feel safe thanks to the lack of warning on the google directions.

    I totally sympathize with her. I was looking up walking directions from Seattle to Brisbane, Australia and when the Google Maps turn #10 ended up being "Kayak across the Pacific Ocean," for 2,756 miles at first I was like, "No way I can kayak that far." But then I realized that Google Maps wouldn't tell me to do something that wasn't perfectly safe so I went ahead and did it.

    Sooo... Long story short, do you think Omaha Steaks delivers to GPS coordinates in the ocean? Also, do they carry sunblock?

    --Sent from my Blackberry wireless device