Auto Accident Verdict Overturned: Tesla Contests $243 Million Autopilot Lawsuit Award
In a significant development, Tesla, Inc. has filed an appeal against a federal jury verdict that held the company partially responsible for a 2019 collision caused by its Autopilot driver-assistance system. The crash resulted in one pedestrian's death and another's lifelong injuries.
The incident occurred when George McGee, who was driving a Model S, dropped his phone while approaching an intersection. Despite having the Autopilot system enabled, neither McGee nor the system applied the brakes in time to prevent the collision. The pedestrians involved were 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon, who was killed in the collision, and her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, who was severely injured.
The jury awarded $329 million in damages in the case, including $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages. Tesla was ordered to pay this sum, covering the entire award.
Reports reveal that Tesla declined a $60 million settlement offer before the jury handed down the much larger award. The recovered data showed that Autopilot had charted a path directly through the couple.
Lawyers for the victims argued that Tesla misrepresented Autopilot's capabilities. McGee testified during the trial that he felt Autopilot "failed him." Tesla, however, stated that auto manufacturers do not insure the world against harms caused by reckless drivers.
This case marks the first federal jury trial over a fatal crash linked to Autopilot. Tesla has faced other lawsuits involving the Autopilot software, including a 2018 crash and a California state trial in 2023.
Tesla has requested a federal court in Miami, Florida, to overturn the verdict, order a new trial, or significantly reduce the damages. The appeal comes after Elon Musk previously announced that Tesla would challenge the decision. Tesla called the $243 million award contrary to "common sense."
The trial highlighted the ongoing debate about the safety and reliability of autonomous driving systems, particularly in the context of Tesla's Autopilot. As the case progresses, it is expected to set a precedent for future litigation involving similar technologies.
