Judge rules Snapchat immune from distracted-driver car crash lawsuit

By Saqib Shah January 23, 2017

distracted-driving-cell-phone — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Snapchat cannot be held responsible for causing a high-speed highway accident that left multiple people injured, ruled a Spalding County State Court judge on Friday. Dismissing the allegations, Judge Josh Thacker said the Communications Decency Act (CDA) renders the company immune from the complaint.

The lawsuit filed in April 2016 by Uber driver Wentworth Maynard — who suffered traumatic brain injuries as a result of the car crash — claims that the distracted driver of the car that struck his vehicle at 107 mph on a highway outside of Atlanta, Georgia was busy using Snapchat at the time of the crash.

Recommended Videos

According to Maynard’s lawyers, Christal McGee was caught up in Snapchat’s miles-per-hour filter, which overlays an image or video on the app with text stating the user’s approximate speed, as she attempted to reach 100 mph. While McGee was using the app, she allegedly hit Maynard’s car, sending it across the left lane and into an embankment. The accident itself occurred in September 2015.

Maynard was hospitalized for several weeks, while McGee suffered only minor injuries. The lawsuit adds that shortly after the accident, McGee even posted an image to Snapchat which saw her strapped to her gurney with blood on her forehead. The caption read, “lucky to be alive.”

Maynard’s civil lawsuit sought to hold both Snapchat and McGee responsible for his medical bills and “lifelong care.” Back in April, lead attorney Michael L. Neff asserted that there was “clear evidence” linking use of the Snapchat miles-per-hour filter in the moments leading up to the crash. “It’s our hope that this case … will pressure Snapchat to stop putting the public at risk,” added Neff.

The immunity clause in the 1996 CDA that the judge based the decision on, states: “No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.” However, the judge did add that a key question is whether Snapchat has a legal duty to remove or restrict the use of the speed filter in question, seeing as accidents have allegedly occurred due to its use by drivers in the past.

Maynard’s lawyer told Minnesota newspaper Star Tribune that his client is considering an appeal. The case now leaves, pending the claims against McGee.

Updated on 01-23-2017: Added news that Snapchat’s alleged responsibility for the accident has been dismissed.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Saqib Shah is a Twitter addict and film fan with an obsessive interest in pop culture trends. In his spare time he can be…

Photography

Best drone deals: Get a cheap drone for $47 and more

The DJI Mini 3 Pro in flight with spring flowers in the background.

You don't have to be a YouTuber or Twitch streamer to find a lot of use for drones, especially if you're the sort of person who enjoys photography and filmography. Even better, a lot of modern drones, especially the ones targeted to consumers, have a lot of automation in them, so you don't need to be incredibly skilled in drone flight to use one. Of course, drones can still be quite expensive, especially if you want something that's a step above the basic budget-oriented drones. That's why we've collected some of our favorite drone deals, including some DJI alternatives, so you can find what works best for you.

Of course, if you prefer a more traditional experience, you could always check out these GoPro deals and camera deals instead.
Radclo Mini Drone -- $50, was $230

Space

Astronaut’s stunning photo shows ‘flowing silver snakes’

A photo of Earth at night taken by NASA astronaut Don Pettit.

Over his three previous missions to the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronaut Don Pettit earned a reputation for having a keen eye when it comes to photographing Earth and beyond.

Since arriving at the ISS on his fourth orbital mission earlier this month, Pettit, who at 69 is NASA’s oldest active astronaut, has wasted little time in grabbing the station’s cameras to capture and share fresh dazzling imagery shot from 250 miles above Earth.

Space

SpaceX recreates iconic New York City photo with Starship workers

SpaceX engineers high above the company's Starbase facility in Boca Chica, Texas.

SpaceX has given a shout-out to some of its engineers as the company prepares for its first attempt at "catching" a first-stage Super Heavy booster as it returns to Earth.

In a message accompanying two images that recreate the iconic Lunch Atop a Skyscraper photo taken in New York City in 1932, SpaceX said on X (formerly Twitter) that the engineers have spent “years” preparing for the booster catch, a feat that it’s planning to try for the first time with the upcoming fifth test flight of the Starship. It also included a photo of how the first-stage Super Heavy booster will look when clasped between the tower’s giant mechanical arms after launching the upper-stage Starship spacecraft to orbit.