Pedestrian Follows Google Map, Gets Run Over, Sues 699
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."
good thing (Score:5, Funny)
she didnt press "im feeling lucky" button so
Empathy (Score:5, Funny)
Oh Ya... (Score:5, Funny)
Seriously and probably incurably retarded person gets injured through own sheer stupidity and wants others to pay. Lawyers will make a bundle. News at 11.
Re:So.... (Score:5, Funny)
Her father is the one responsible. He pulled out too late.
This story is made up (Score:5, Funny)
There are no kilometers in Utah.
Re:Um. (Score:3, Funny)
Exactly. How is this any different than Google suggesting I use a crosswalk and getting hit?
The driver is the only one at fault. Highway driving or not, you are supposed to be watching out for pedestrians (hikers, cyclists, etc).
However, she should lose the case for either stupidity or greed, whichever is driving her to sue the big company.
Re:Um. (Score:5, Funny)
Looks to me like it's RIM's fault.
Rosenberg claims that she accessed the Maps function on her Blackberry mobile device, where it did not include the warning.
I'd say it's time to fire the lawyers who forgot to sue RIM and then use new lawyers to sue the lawyers whose mistake it was.
Re:So.... (Score:1, Funny)
I'm not saying she should be immediately arrested but at least she should be charged with a criminal offense.
Or at the very least hit by a passing car ... oh, wait, that's what got Google into this mess in the first place.
Re:not a darwin award winner (Score:4, Funny)
unless there are undead lawyers.
They're called Estate Lawyers [about.com]
They're the complement to "ambulance chaser", they're more of a "hearse chaser".
She didn't get hit enough. (Score:5, Funny)
Seriously. Where's a speeding, out-of-control Michael Bay-style 18-wheeler loaded with gasoline and hand grenades that's already on fire when you need one? I think Google's entire response should be a photocopy of an enormous erect penis that just says "suck it" at the bottom.
Re:For serious? (Score:0, Funny)
Re:For serious? (Score:4, Funny)
blockquote)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//blockquote)
That's even worse. Providing such explicit instructions would be cannon fodder for a attorney. The mantra "Less is more" comes to mind.
Simply saying something to the effect 'These directions are provided as a courtesy. The user is fully responsible for their personal safety while using said directions. By using the directions you absolve yadda, yadda, yadda....
In short, this woman, in my humble opinion, should remove herself from the gene-pool.
I blame the driver (Score:4, Funny)
clearly he wasn't driving fast enough, and apparently his aim isn't so good either..
Re:So.... (Score:3, Funny)
"Please, kids, don't use the pull-out method -- there's a reason it's called the Vietnam of contraception."
Good.
I'll call the result "Peace With Honor" and run away!
Re:Whatever happened to common sense? (Score:3, Funny)
let's suggest the head instead of an arm.
She'll have to get it out of her ass first!
Re:For serious? (Score:5, Funny)
Breathe regularly to prevent asphyxiation.
Now you tell me. -- David Carradine
Re:For serious? (Score:3, Funny)
The computer would have told her to keep alert.
She however trusted in her phone.
Never trust your phone telling you what to do, even if it is supposed to be smart.
Criminal little nasties, waiting for the jailbreak.
Re:Kayaking to Japan (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Oh Ya... (Score:5, Funny)
There's a saying in my motherland that goes something like "Fucking retards deserve what they get."
Re:I'm sorry but... (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
Re:This story is made up (Score:3, Funny)
There are no kilometers in Utah.
There may, however, be a kill-o-meter in Mountain View...
Re:For serious? (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.
Re:For serious? (Score:5, Funny)
WARNING: Leaving the computer may cause you to encounter the real world (beta). This contains myriad dangers. If you are unsure how to proceed, please go to bed and hide under your duvet.
Re:Oncoming Traffic Re:For serious? (Score:1, Funny)
Re:For serious? (Score:3, Funny)
Yes. It skidded on BP's spilled oil.
Re:I'm sorry but... (Score:5, Funny)
See, thats why blackberry is great. An iPhone wouldn't get signal in the middle of the Pacific.
Re:For serious? (Score:3, Funny)
Paris was a city when Chicago was a marsh full of wild onions.
It's good to know that Paris was a city this year, but what does that have to do with Paris's history?