Verdict in Autopilot Trial
A federal jury in Miami has determined that Tesla holds partial responsibility for a deadly crash in 2019 involving its Autopilot system. The jury awarded a total of $329 million in compensatory and punitive damages to the plaintiffs.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred when neither the vehicle’s driver nor the Autopilot system responded in time to prevent a collision at an intersection. As a result, the car collided with an SUV, leading to the tragic death of pedestrian Naibel Benavides Leon, age 20, and severe injuries to her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. The jury assigned two-thirds of the fault to the driver and one-third to Tesla, which is being sued separately.
Significance of the Verdict
This verdict concludes a three-week trial and stands out as one of the first significant legal judgments against Tesla concerning its driver assistance technology. The company has previously settled lawsuits related to similar incidents involving Autopilot.
Reactions from Legal Representatives
Brett Schreiber, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, criticized Tesla’s design choices, stating that the Autopilot system was created exclusively for controlled access highways but not restricted from use in other contexts. He emphasized, “Tesla’s lies turned our roads into test tracks for their fundamentally flawed technology, putting everyday Americans like Naibel Benavides and Dillon Angulo in harm’s way.” Schreiber expressed that the verdict serves as a form of justice for both victims, holding Tesla and CEO Elon Musk accountable for their ambitious claims surrounding self-driving technology.
Tesla’s Response
In response, Tesla announced plans to appeal the decision, citing significant legal errors and irregularities throughout the trial. A company statement argued, “Today’s verdict is wrong and only works to set back automotive safety and jeopardize Tesla’s and the entire industry’s efforts to develop and implement life-saving technology.” They further noted that neither their vehicles in 2019 nor today would have averted this incident, attributing blame solely to the driver.
Autopilot’s Reputation
The ongoing claims made by Tesla and Musk about Autopilot’s capabilities have led to public overconfidence in the system. This concern has been echoed by government officials and was highlighted in a 2020 report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which investigated a previous fatal crash involving Autopilot. The NTSB pointed out that Tesla largely ignored several safety recommendations post-investigation.
Looking Ahead
The trial’s conclusion comes as Tesla is in the process of launching its much-anticipated Robotaxi network in Austin, Texas, utilizing an upgraded version of its driver assistance technology, known as Full Self-Driving.
Update: This article has been revised to clarify the total amount awarded in compensatory damages.
