Florida Jury Orders Tesla To Pay $243 Million In Autopilot Wrongful Death Suit

In August, a federal jury in Miami delivered a verdict against Tesla, finding the company partially liable for a fatal 2019 crash involving Tesla’s Autopilot driver-assist system. The jury returned a verdict of $243 million against the automaker.

The accident that led to the lawsuit 

The lawsuit was the result of a tragic accident that occurred in April 2019 in the Florida Keys. A Tesla Model S, operating with its autopilot engaged, failed to detect a stationary Chevy Tahoe. As a result, the Tesla struck the vehicle as two individuals stood nearby. One of those individuals was killed, while the other was seriously injured.

The jury’s ruling 

As a result of the lawsuit, the jury awarded the plaintiffs $129 million in compensatory damages and an additional $200 million in punitive damages. Tesla was specifically held liable for 33% of the compensatory damages, which equals approximately $42.6 million, which was a significant figure considering Tesla labels their system as “purely assistive”.

The attorneys representing Tesla criticized the verdict, stating that it would hinder efforts to enhance automotive safety and advance their life-saving technologies. Tesla’s attorneys say that the ruling’s assumption that the Autopilot was at fault was misguided.

The significance of this verdict 

This ruling represents one of the first federal jury verdicts finding Tesla accountable in a wrongful death case involving its Autopilot. It thus sets the precedent for future litigation. The plaintiff’s attorney said the verdict was a reckoning for Tesla’s marketing claims. Tesla has long said its Autopilot is capable of outperforming human drivers. The company downplayed its limitations in court. The plaintiff’s attorney emphasized that avoiding a secret settlement was the key to ensuring transparency and accountability. He intends to file more lawsuits, possibly leveraging insider testimony from former Autopilot engineers. He believes this verdict will change the world of autonomous vehicle accountability.

The verdict has already impacted Tesla’s investor base. Shortly after the ruling was announced, shareholders filed a class action lawsuit against the automaker, alleging that Tesla misled investors on the safety and performance of its robotaxi and Autopilot technologies. In addition, the ruling will intensify the spotlight on regulatory scrutiny and legal exposure that the company faces, especially when it comes to its autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles.

The verdict, thus, marks a pivotal moment in autonomous vehicle law and corporate accountability. There are substantial legal risks for companies that promote advanced driver-assist technologies while allegedly overstating their capabilities.

Talk to a Florida Product Liability Lawyer Today 

Halpern, Santos & Pinkert represent the interests of Florida residents who have been seriously injured by a dangerous or defective consumer product. Call our Florida personal injury lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin investigating your claims right away.

Source:

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