Tesla Autopilot Trial Begins Over Fatal 2019 Crash
A trial has begun in Miami, focusing on a 2019 crash where a Tesla Model S sedan, using Autopilot, struck a parked vehicle, killing a passenger and injuring her boyfriend. Plaintiffs argue Tesla's Autopilot should have warned the driver and braked when the car blew through red lights and a stop sign at nearly 70 mph.
Tesla blames the crash on driver distraction, claiming the driver was reaching for a dropped cell phone. However, plaintiffs argue Tesla should have geofenced Autopilot to restrict its use to larger roads and prevent its use on smaller roads like the one where the crash occurred. Critics point out that Elon Musk's public comments about Tesla's 'Full Self-Driving' technology may lead to overreliance and crashes.
In 2021, the family of Naibel Benavides Leon filed a similar lawsuit against Tesla, alleging negligence related to her death caused by a car crash involving a Tesla vehicle. Tesla faces lawsuits and investigations over alleged gaps between its depictions of Autopilot's capabilities and its actual performance. Despite these issues, Tesla plans to launch hundreds of thousands of robotaxis on U.S. roads by the end of next year, using its self-driving technology.
A jury will decide if Tesla is partly responsible for the crash and if the company acted with reckless disregard for human life. In 2023, federal auto safety regulators recalled 2.3 million Teslas for Autopilot issues and later investigated Tesla's claims of fixing the problem. The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for the future of self-driving technology.
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