Woman Sues Google For Bad Directions
Northridge resident Lauren Rosenberg is suing Google over bad directions she received from the site, according to various reports.
Rosenberg was struck by a driver and injured in Park City, Utah on Jan. 19, 2009 as she walked on a highway route obtained by searching Google Maps on her Blackberry. She suffered broken legs, an injured hip, and head injuries, spending six weeks in a Salt Lake City rehabilitation center, according to reports.
Rosenberg is seeking more than $100,000 in the U.S. District Court in Utah to cover medical expenses.
The lawsuit states that Google Maps led her to Deer Valley Drive (a.k.a. Utah State Route 224), a four-lane highway without sidewalks that was "not reasonably safe for pedestrians."
Rosenberg had tried to cross the boulevard to reach a sidewalk but didn't even make it to the median before the car hit her. Her attorney has said that because of her head injuries, Rosenberg does not remember if she was looking at or using her phone at the time she was hit.
According her complaint filing:
"As a direct and proximate cause of Defendant Google's careless, reckless and negligent providing of unsafe directions, Plaintiff Lauren Rosenberg was led onto a dangerous highway, and was thereby stricken by a motor vehicle, causing her to suffer sever permanent physical, emotional, and mental injuries, including pain and suffering."
Google spokeswoman Elaine Filadelfo argued that walking directions for Google Maps are in "beta" form -- suggesting users exercise caution while using the application -- and have been so since 2008.
"Walking directions are in beta," Google Maps warns users. "Use caution -- this route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths."
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