Yikes. Jaded perhaps, I read the headline and assumed it was another frivolous suit, but this poor guy had everyone working against him. I'm not sure who all is to blame, but the setup is ridiculous.<p>A bridge collapsed for years, with no barricade and likely inadequate or non-existent signage? Insane. People asking Google to remove the route, and them just completely ignoring it? Also pretty damning IMO.<p>I hope this family finds whatever peace they're able to obtain.
If the facts as presented are indeed true, this suit seems to hinge on the question of whether entities publishing information intended for use have any liability at all? Like if you say “here’s information you can use for X” and then someone is harmed by using that information for X, do you (well, do publishers) have any responsibility <i>ever</i>?<p>Because if they do, and the facts are correct, you’d think that in this case they should. But maybe they just… never have any liability at all? And can make boatloads of cash without worrying.
* insurance is likely the source of the lawsuit. They throw spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. I find it unlikely to be successfull. They would have more success going after the entity gov responsible that did not barricade the collapsed bridge.
Ars article has photos of the bridge:<p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/09/lawsuit-says-man-died-after-google-maps-directed-him-over-collapsed-bridge/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/09/lawsuit-says-man...</a><p>Reporting at the time of the accident:<p><a href="https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/catawba-county-deadly-crash-jeep-runs-off-closed-bridge-hickory-north-carolina/275-1a06eb43-0a13-40fb-b606-6f07b439b319#l8u04uk5i128sw8axz8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.wcnc.com/article/traffic/catawba-county-deadly-c...</a><p>It's a private road which is why the county/state hadn't repaired it.<p>Google Maps no longer shows the road going through but if you switch to street view you can "drive" over the bridge from before it collapsed. Here's street view from on top of the former bridge:<p><a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/2yiQG1NBanpnVdav8" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://maps.app.goo.gl/2yiQG1NBanpnVdav8</a>