Wentworth Maynard was struck by Christal McGee, a woman driving over 100 mph in order to take a Snapchat speed filter photo, on a highway near Atlanta, Georgia, and suffered permanent brain damage. McGee had three passengers in her Mercedes C320, however according to Metro there is “no information on injuries suffered by Christal McGee or her passengers.” Despite McGee’s unknown state, Maynard is now suing Snapchat, arguing that the filter “facilitated McGee’s excessive speeding” and “distracted her in the moments leading up to the crash.”:
The former Uber driver has been unable to work since the crash, the suit says.
McGee even took a snap after the crash, showing her in an ambulance under the caption ‘Lucky to be alive’.
The lawsuit also names McGee as a defendant and demands unspecified damages from Snapchat.(via)
Speaking to New York Daily News, one of Maynard’s attorneys, T. Shane Peagler, argues that “This is a product liability case because Snapchat put something very dangerous in the marketplace without any warnings or safeguards, and basically said, whatever happens, happens.”
You’d think common sense would be enough of a safeguard here, but if you’re determined to maim yourself and others then all intelligence goes straight out the window. Frankly, McGee should be the only one getting sued here – not Snapchat.
Snapchat has not issued a statement on the lawasuit, however they have added a warning to the speed filter telling users to not snap while driving. Tomorrow they will be also be adding the warning “Please, do NOT forget to breathe” on every filter since that’s important and god forbid someone not breathe and then file a lawsuit because Snapchat didn’t tell them one way or another.
As for McGee’s ambulance Snapchat…it’s a fucking doozy:
Some people, man. Some people.
[H/T Metro]