Electric vehicle maker Tesla is liable for $243M in damages after a jury found Friday that the company’s driver assistance technology was partly responsible for a fatal 2019 crash. Legal experts say the judgment, likely to be appealed, may set a significant precedent in cases involving self-driving technology.
In the accident in question, a Tesla Model S struck and killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and injured her boyfriend after running through a stop sign in Key Largo, Florida, at night. The driver said he had Tesla’s Autopilot—a slimmed-down version of its full self-driving software, typically used on highways—engaged when he dropped his cellphone. The plaintiffs argued Tesla’s claims about the feature’s capabilities encouraged inattentive driving and that the company allows it to be used in areas the system is not designed for, such as rural roads.
See a video breakdown with dashcam footage of recent issues with Autopilot (via 1440 Topics).
Tesla Autopilot Crash Award added by Staff on
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Elon needs to admit he’s wrong about LIDAR and add that technology to his AVs including the robotaxis. By 2029, new federal mandates on crash avoidance will require it.
Invest wisely!
It was only a matter of time. No way in he// I would ever get in an “autopilot” vehicle, especially one with a “slimmed down version” of its autopilot software.
The judgment, SHOULD be appealed. Other Articles stated that Tesla was One Third at Fault which makes the total Judgement $729,000,000. These Juries are getting stupid crazy with these Judgements over the last several Years.