Additional Coverage:
- Tesla must pay over $242M in damages after being found partly at fault for deadly Autopilot crash (businessinsider.com)
Tesla Found Partially Liable in Fatal 2019 Crash, Florida Jury Awards $242.5 Million in Damages
A Florida jury has found Tesla partially responsible for a 2019 crash that resulted in the death of 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and serious injuries to her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. The jury awarded the plaintiffs a total of $242.5 million in damages.
The jury determined that Tesla was 33% responsible for the accident, with the driver bearing the remaining responsibility. While the total damages awarded were $329 million (including $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages), Tesla’s portion amounts to $242.5 million, covering the full punitive damages and one-third of the compensatory damages.
The crash occurred when the Tesla, driven by George McGee, ran a stop sign and flashing red light, colliding with an SUV. Angulo and Benavides Leon were stargazing near the SUV at the time of the impact.
The plaintiffs argued that Tesla’s Autopilot feature, engaged at the time of the crash, had design flaws and was partially responsible for the accident. McGee testified that he dropped his phone and was reaching for it just before the crash.
He stated his belief that the Autopilot system failed to warn him or apply the brakes.
Tesla maintains that the driver was solely at fault and plans to appeal the verdict. The company contends that McGee accelerated just before the crash, overriding the Autopilot system. Tesla asserts that no car available in 2019 could have prevented the accident and that the lawsuit misrepresents the capabilities of Autopilot.
This verdict represents a significant legal setback for Tesla and raises questions about the safety and functionality of its Autopilot technology. Plaintiff attorney Brett Schreiber stated that the verdict holds Tesla accountable for overstating Autopilot’s capabilities, while Tesla’s attorney argued that the case centered on driver error, not a defective vehicle.