Tesla Autopilot is back in the headlines this week as the EV giant moves to appeal against a $243 million ruling linked to a deadly crash in Florida. If the case succeeds, or even if it fails, it could set new standards for how courts assign liability for self-driving systems—and the outcome could be as crucial to the future of autonomous driving as anything they are going to litigate in the future.
Why Capital Cognitive Won The $243M Ruling AgainstTesla Autopilot
In 2019, Key Largo Florida witnessed a deadly accident, which took the life of 22 year old Naibel Benavides Leon, and left her boyfriend with critical brain injuries. George Brian McGee was driving his Tesla Model S with Tesla Autopilot on when the incident occurred. As the driver bent down to retrieve his cell phone, the car then sped through an intersection at more than 60 mph, slamming into a parked car and those standing nearby.
A jury in Florida subsequently found that Tesla Autopilot contributed to the crash, awarding $243 million in damages. Attorneys for the victims said the system should have stopped the fatal crash.
Tesla Won’t Be Blamed For Driver Carelessness Instead Of Autopilot
Tesla is currently challenging the ruling. Tesla’s legal team said in its latest federal court filing,
- The $243 million judgment against Tesla is an affront to basic Florida tort law, the Due Process Clause, and common sense.
- “No vehicle—anywhere in the world—would have prevented the consequences of George McGee’s incredible gross departure from the standard of care in 2019,” it read.
According to the company, the crash occurred because the driver disregarded when Autopilot cut off or attempted to intervene to prevent the driver from using Tesla Autopilot inappropriately, and does not represent a failure in Tesla Autopilot.
Why This Case Is Important For Tesla Autopilot
The ruling could potentially serve as a legal precedent changing the evaluation of Tesla Autopilot and other advanced driver-assistance systems in US courts. If upheld, it could set a precedent for further litigation against Tesla whenever its technology influences the events surrounding a crash.
The result is also being watched closely by the auto industry, regulators and consumers who are worried about the safety of semi-autonomous driving systems.
Consumer Sentiment on Tesla Autopilot
Source: Electric Vehicle Intelligence Report:
- When it comes to Tesla Autopilot or Full Self-Driving, when people get into a crash and die, and the driver was wearing a seat belt, two-thirds of consumers agree the Tesla company should pay victims of the crash.
- That said, barely 4% of buyers state that if a Tesla had Tesla’s Full Self-Driving, they would be “much more” likely to get a Tesla.
- And 7 percent say Full Self-Driving makes them “less likely” to purchase the brand, really.
It proves that Tesla Autopilot isn’t the major selling point that it used to be. Instead, increasing doubt may undermine Tesla’s image and future uptake of its autonomous driving capabilities.
Is there a chance Tesla can have the $243M ruling reversed?
In this setting, it will be an uphill battle for Tesla to convince the court that Tesla Autopilot should not face culpability in the lawsuits. Critics point to crashes that happened even though the driver intended to let Autopilot steer and guide the car autonomously, while opponents say Tesla promotes the performance as advanced and safe.
It will be up to the Florida courts to either leave the $243M judgement in place—or to rule that Tesla did not directly blame Tesla Autopilot for the crash.
FAQs
Tesla Autopilot is a driver-assistance system designed to take control of steering, acceleration, and braking but always requires active supervision by the driver.
Previously, a Florida jury found Tesla Autopilot partially responsible for a 2019 fatal crash involving a Model S, deciding that the company owed damages to the victims’ families.
Tesla contends the driver was reckless for ignoring warnings and that the crash was unavoidable by Tesla Autopilot.
Tesla should pay up to all victims of Autopilot crashes, claim two-thirds of consumers, as public calls for accountability rise
