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A federal jury in Miami found Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer owned by Elon Musk, partially liable for an accident that occurred in 2019 in Key Largo, where a vehicle with the Autopilot system activated fatally struck a 22-year-old woman and left her companion seriously injured.
The verdict, issued on August 1, requires the company to pay more than 240 million dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.
According to the jury, Tesla is 32% responsible for the incident, while the driver of the vehicle, George McGee, was found to be 67% at fault after hitting Naibel Benavides León and Dillon Angulo while they were outside their vehicle, which was parked at the roadside, reported the television channel Local 10.
According to the lawsuit, McGee was driving with the Autopilot activated when he became distracted looking for his phone on the floor, which caused him to ignore a caution light and a stop sign before crashing at high speed.
Tesla argued that the driver was solely responsible, but the jury did not see it that way.
According to the source, the victims' families accused Tesla of misleadingly promoting the Autopilot, making it seem more advanced than it actually was.
In court, it was revealed that Tesla had denied having key data about the accident, but a forensic expert hired by the plaintiffs managed to find that information in the vehicle's own systems.
The jury ordered Tesla to pay $200 million in punitive damages and an additional $43 million in compensatory damages, a sum that could encourage a wave of similar lawsuits, according to legal experts cited by U.S. media.
Tesla described the ruling as "erroneous" and announced that it would appeal. In its statement, the company emphasized that the driver was exceeding the speed limit, had his foot on the accelerator, and took his eyes off the road—actions that, according to them, negate any responsibility of the Autopilot system.
The trial has become a rare case that reaches a federal court, as most lawsuits against Tesla for accidents involving Autopilot have been dismissed or resolved in confidential settlements before going to trial, highlighting the significance of the precedent that this ruling could establish.
Despite Tesla's claims of technological improvements since 2019, the company's reliability image remains in question.
Tesla Inc. has faced increasing pressure due to issues with its autopilot. The consortium has repeatedly defended that the Autopilot system does not make its vehicles autonomous and has warned that drivers must be "fully attentive" to driving and keep their hands on the wheel at all times.
The company maintains that its functions are designed to assist, not replace the human driver. However, one of the key points in the lawsuit is how Tesla communicates such risks.
According to a dispatch from the agency EFE, a class action lawsuit was made public in June involving approximately 10,000 drivers in Australia, who are seeking compensation from the company for an automatic braking issue.
During the same month, U.S. authorities requested information from Musk's company regarding incidents reported during the early hours of the robotaxi service testing in Austin, Texas.
Users shared videos on social media in which these cars exceed speed limits or drive in the wrong direction.
In 2024, Tesla Inc. reached an agreement to settle a lawsuit regarding an accident involving one of its semi-automatic vehicles that occurred in California in 2018, resulting in the death of the driver.
Frequently asked questions about the Tesla case and the accident involving Autopilot in Florida
Why was Tesla declared partially responsible for the accident in Florida?
Tesla was found partially responsible due to the way it communicated the risks of the Autopilot system and for advertising it misleadingly, making it seem more advanced than it actually was. The jury determined that Tesla was 32% responsible for the accident, while the driver George McGee was 67% responsible.
What legal actions were taken against Tesla following the accident in Key Largo?
The jury ordered Tesla to pay over 240 million dollars in compensatory and punitive damages. The company will have to pay 200 million in punitive damages and 43 million in compensatory damages. This ruling could set a precedent for future similar lawsuits against the company.
How will this ruling affect Tesla in the future?
The ruling could encourage a wave of similar lawsuits against Tesla, as it establishes an important legal precedent regarding manufacturers' liability in accidents involving assisted driving systems. Moreover, the case has called into question Tesla's image of reliability concerning its autonomous driving systems.
What was Tesla's defense in the trial regarding the accident with Autopilot?
Tesla argued that the driver was solely responsible for the accident, stating that he exceeded the speed limits, had his foot on the accelerator, and took his eyes off the road. However, the jury did not fully accept this defense and found Tesla partially responsible.
How has Tesla responded to the jury's verdict?
Tesla described the ruling as "erroneous" and announced that it will appeal the decision. The company insists that the driver was exceeding speed limits and that their actions nullified any responsibility of the Autopilot system. Tesla maintains that its system is designed to assist, not replace, the human driver.
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