Tesla, led by Elon Musk, compelled to dispense $243 million following auto accident lawsuit
In a landmark decision, a Miami jury has found Tesla responsible for a fatal crash that occurred in the Florida Keys in 2019, marking the first time the company has been ordered to pay damages following a trial over its Autopilot functions.
The jury's verdict, which came after a two-week trial, holds that Tesla's Autopilot technology failed to detect a parked Chevrolet Tahoe at an intersection, resulting in a collision that claimed the life of 22-year-old Nyabel Benavides Leon and severely injured her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo.
Key factors contributing to the crash included:
- The Autopilot system's inability to identify the large, stationary profile of the Chevy SUV on the shoulder.
- The high speed at which the Tesla struck the parked SUV, estimated to be between 62-70 mph.
- The victims being standing next to the SUV at the time of impact.
The jury apportioned 33% of the compensatory damages to Tesla, indicating partial liability for the vehicle and its system's failure. The verdict also includes punitive damages, reflecting the jury's finding that Tesla bore significant responsibility due to the Autopilot system's shortcomings in this incident.
The crash was captured on Tesla's own cameras, providing direct evidence related to Autopilot's behavior at the time.
Tesla has stated that Autopilot does not make Tesla a fully autonomous vehicle and that the driver is solely responsible for the crash. The company plans to appeal the verdict.
Elon Musk, the world's richest person and CEO of Tesla, has not commented on the verdict publicly. However, in the past, he has claimed that Autopilot drives better than humans.
This incident is not the first time Tesla's Autopilot functions have been under scrutiny. Previous suits involving the technology have been dismissed or resolved outside the courtroom.
Tesla's stock plunged 1.83% on the NASDAQ following the Miami verdict, reflecting investor concerns about the potential impact of the ruling on the company's future.
Brett Schreiber, an attorney for the plaintiffs, stated that Tesla designed Autopilot for controlled-access highways but chose not to restrict its use elsewhere. He argued that the company's CEO, Elon Musk, claimed Autopilot drove better than humans.
The statement from Tesla, edited by Rana Taha, asserts that the verdict sets back automotive safety and jeopardizes the efforts to develop lifesaving technology.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-found-liable-2019-florida-keys-crash-jury-awards-243-million-2023-03-31/ [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/business/tesla-crash-trial.html
- The world's largest media outlets have reported on the Miami jury's verdict, which found Tesla liable for a car-accident in 2019 that resulted in a fatality, marking a significant milestone in the technology industry's accountability.
- The verdict, which awarded $243 million in damages, has raised concerns within the general-news, transportation, and finance industries, as Tesla's stock has seen a decline following the court ruling.
- The jury's decision indicates that Tesla's Autopilot technology, despite its claims of advanced capabilities, failed to prevent a collision involving a parked Chevrolet Tahoe at an intersection.
- While Tesla maintains that its Autopilot system does not make their vehicles fully autonomous and that the driver remains responsible, the jury found the company partially at fault for the crash's occurrence, highlighting the need for greater safety measures in the automotive industry.
- With Elon Musk, the world's richest person, remaining silent on the matter, attention has shifted to Tesla's plan of appeal and the potential impact this verdict could have on future autonomous technology development and implementation in the world.
