Tesla has been hit with a $243 million verdict following a deadly crash involving one of its Autopilot-equipped vehicles in 2019. The crash occurred in Florida, when a Tesla Model S collided with a parked Chevrolet Tahoe, fatally injuring Naibel Benavides Leon and seriously wounding her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo.
Before the trial, Tesla turned down a $60 million settlement offer. The case went to a jury this month, which awarded $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages. Tesla was found responsible for 33% of the compensatory damages, about $42.6 million, plus the full amount of the punitive damages.
The court found the Tesla driver liable for 67% of the compensatory damages, but he was not named as a defendant. The plaintiffs’ legal team has since asked for the legal fees accumulated since the settlement offer was made in late May.
Tesla denies any wrongdoing and announced plans to appeal the decision. The company argues that the verdict could hinder efforts to advance automotive safety and the development of self-driving technology. This lawsuit marks the first wrongful death case linked to Tesla’s Autopilot system that has made it to trial. Previous lawsuits related to Tesla’s driver assistance features have been settled or dismissed outside of court.
The case has drawn attention to the risks involved with autonomous driving technology and raises questions about liability when accidents occur. It also highlights the challenges Tesla and other companies face as they work to improve self-driving cars while keeping safety at the forefront.