MIAMI — A federal jury found Tesla partially liable in a tragic car accident from 2019, which resulted in the death of a pedestrian and severe injuries to another person while the vehicle was operating in Autopilot mode. The jury awarded $43 million in compensatory damages for pain and suffering and an additional $200 million in punitive damages aimed at discouraging future misconduct by the company.
This verdict poses a significant challenge for Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, as they work to establish the safety of their self-driving technology among the public, regulators, and investors. The decision came after a three-week trial that examined Tesla’s marketing of its driver-assistance features, highlighting a potential disconnect between the capabilities of Autopilot and consumer expectations.
The eight-member jury determined that Tesla was one-third responsible for the fatal crash, which took place in the Florida Keys. The driver, who was attempting to retrieve his cellphone, bore the remaining two-thirds of the blame. During the incident, the Tesla sedan failed to brake for an intersection, colliding with a parked SUV, fatally injuring 20-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and injuring her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo.
Though the jury assessed that the plaintiffs endured pain and suffering damages totaling $129 million, Tesla’s financial responsibility was limited to one-third of that total due to its partial liability. Following the ruling, Tesla responded with strong criticism, indicating plans to appeal the verdict. The company asserted that the ruling jeopardizes both automotive safety and the industry’s advancement in developing life-saving technology.
During the trial, attorneys for the plaintiffs claimed that Tesla exaggerated Autopilot’s capabilities, leading drivers to become distracted and less vigilant. They argued that the driver had his eyes off the road when approaching the T-intersection at dusk. The vehicle, according to trial evidence, was traveling at 62 miles per hour just before the accident, at a junction marked by a stop sign and a flashing red light.
The plaintiffs filed suit against both the driver and Tesla, contending that the Autopilot software should have intervened by issuing a warning or initiating braking procedures prior to the collision. Jurors spent seven hours deliberating before concluding that Tesla released a vehicle with inherent defects that contributed significantly to the incident.
Autopilot, a feature standard on all Tesla vehicles, combines several driver-assistance systems, but the company warns users that the feature requires constant supervision. Critics argue that Tesla’s marketing practices have misled consumers into believing the technology is more autonomous than it is, potentially leading to dangerous distractions.
The legal battle stands as a scrutiny point for Tesla’s safety claims, especially as regulators in the United States have raised concerns about the Autopilot system and its role in numerous accidents. A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year cited a “critical safety gap” in Autopilot that was linked to at least 467 crashes, including 13 fatalities.
Plaintiff attorney Brett Schreiber placed the blame for the case squarely on Musk during closing statements, asserting that Musk created unrealistic consumer expectations regarding Autopilot’s functionality. Tesla maintained that the sole responsibility for the crash lay with the driver, who had managed the intersection safely on multiple prior occasions.
After the verdict was announced, emotional reactions erupted among the families present, with a mix of grief and relief. U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom affirmed the jury’s verdict and indicated she would formalize it in subsequent orders.
This case marks an atypical outcome in a marketplace where most wrongful death claims are settled or dismissed, turning this trial into a significant public examination of Tesla’s safety protocols. As the appeal process unfolds, the industry will be watching closely to gauge the implications of this verdict on the future of self-driving technologies.
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