Search Engine Land, the news and information site that broke the story about how Lauren Rosenberg was struck by a VEHICLE and is now suing Google, has an UPDATE to the story: it was dark outside, and Google maps instructed her to walk across the street.

Search Engine Land's Danny Sullivan spoke with the lead attorney on Rosenberg's case on Tuesday. According to attorney Allen K. Young of Provo, Utah, law firm Young, Kester & Petro, "It was six in the morning. It was not a busy street [then]. She believed there was a sidewalk on the other side."

Apparently, Google Maps directed Rosenberg to cross the street, and she figured it was leading her to a sidewalk. Young says that it was dark outside, and there were no street lights, and Rosenberg had never been in the area before, so she was relying on Google to know where the sidewalks were at. She was, in fact, struck by Patrick Harwood's vehicle when she attempted to cross the street. There was no crosswalk.

Linkobviously google maps should have said "cross the road. Be sure to look both ways to ensure that you will not be struck by an oncoming vehicle. Additionally, ensure that if you need to run, that you are not holding scissors. Keep a Geiger counter handy to ensure that there isn't a deposit of radioactive materials stored in a below ground evil genius warehouse that google maps wasn't aware of."

It's utterly ridiculous. I travel almost every night when it's pitch dark through some areas that have no streetlights. First off: after a minute or so, your eyes ADJUST, even if you only have starlight. On the other hand, if your walking down the street continuously staring at a cellphone or something to try to "guide" you then your eyes never adjust. And in either case, you shouldn't be looking at some guide, you should be paying attention to were you're going. It doesn't matter how dark it is outside, unless your an ignorant fool following directions blindly your going to make some conscious observations about the surrounding environment, this includes such seemingly irrelevant things as those headlights coming TOWARDS you, as well as wether it's a crosswalk. If you're going to be so trusting of something that should supplement your own observations, not replace them, then you may as well be blind and deaf*, since you're ignoring those senses anyway.


*and possibly smell and taste as well. I hope you're happy lady. Instead if tasting a cheeseburger, pizza, ice cream, or anything, instead you should look it up and find out what it's SUPPOSED to taste like. far less effort.I guess it's a good thing that Google maps didn't tell her to jump off a cliff.

Frankly, someone should sue Lauren for being stupid. They would have more of a chance of winning that suit than she has against Google.lol, only in the free land of America where everyone can sue anything!

My favour is still this one: A criminal fell through a glass house roof which broke when trying to break into an old ladies home climbing up to the air vent. He sued the old lady and actually won the case.Quote from: Azzaboi on June 04, 2010, 04:17:02 PM

lol, only in the free land of America where everyone can sue anything!

My favour is still this one: A criminal fell through a glass house roof which broke when trying to break into an old ladies home climbing up to the air vent. He sued the old lady and actually won the case.

heh heh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09I4Mi5IUl4