MIAMI — A federal jury in Miami determined that Tesla shares responsibility in a tragic accident involving the company’s Autopilot feature, awarding a significant financial verdict on Friday. This decision could lead to a wave of similar lawsuits against the automaker, raising questions about its safety reputation at a pivotal moment for the company.
The case arose from a fatal crash in Key Largo on April 25, 2019, that resulted in the death of 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and left her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, severely injured. The couple had stopped their SUV along Card Sound Road when George McGee, operating the vehicle with Autopilot engaged, collided with them at over 60 miles per hour after disregarding both a caution light and stop sign.
According to legal documents, during the moment of impact, McGee claimed he was distracted, having dropped his phone and bent down to retrieve it. The families of the victims contended that Tesla’s Autopilot system failed to prevent the crash and argued that the company misrepresented the technology’s capabilities to consumers.
In the trial, the jury determined that McGee was 67% responsible for the incident, while Tesla was deemed 32% liable. The jury imposed a punitive award of $200 million and an additional $43 million in compensatory damages, bringing Tesla’s total financial obligation to approximately $243 million.
The verdict concludes a four-year legal battle notable for making it to trial — many similar cases against Tesla have been settled or dismissed outside of court. Miguel Custodio, a lawyer specializing in auto accidents, suggested that this ruling might encourage more plaintiffs to pursue court action against the automaker.
Tesla has faced scrutiny in the past over its responsiveness to requests for critical evidence from families affected by similar accidents, a claim the company has consistently denied. In this particular trial, the plaintiffs managed to uncover key data through a forensic expert, leading Tesla to admit a failure to provide the required information.
Following the verdict, Tesla issued a statement expressing its disagreement with the jury’s decision, describing it as a setback for automotive safety advancements. The company announced its intention to appeal, asserting that McGee’s actions were primarily responsible for the crash, as he was speeding and distracted while using Autopilot.
Tesla argued that “no car, whether from 2019 or today, could have prevented this collision,” claiming the lawsuit was an attempt to shift blame from the driver to the vehicle technology.
The long-term implications of the verdict on Tesla’s safety reputation remain uncertain, although the company has made advancements in its technology since the fatal incident. The jury’s partial liability finding indicates that Tesla’s potential financial exposure could be limited under Florida law regarding punitive damages, which may increase their chances in the appellate process.
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