Florida Jury Orders Tesla to Pay $329 Million for Autopilot Crash

A jury in Florida held Tesla liable for a fatal accident in 2019 involving an Autopilot-enabled Model S, awarding a total of $329 million in damages. Naibel Benavides Leon’s estate, along with her former partner Dillon Angulo, was awarded $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages. This case represents the inaugural wrongful death case associated with Tesla’s Autopilot. The plaintiffs initially sought $345 million.

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Tesla is involved in many lawsuits concerning its self-driving technology, but most cases are either settled or dismissed. This verdict could set a precedent, encouraging more legal actions. Experts suggest the penalty might raise future settlement costs. Law professor Alex Lemann noted this ruling could be a turning point for Tesla’s Autopilot and autonomy litigation.

The incident involved George McGee, who was driving a 2019 Model S at approximately 62 mph when he reached down for a dropped cellphone, causing him to run a stop sign and a red light. His car then collided with parked SUVs, including one where Benavides Leon was standing. She was thrown 75 feet and died, while Angulo sustained serious injuries. Plaintiffs’ lawyer Brett Schreiber stated Tesla’s Autopilot was meant for controlled-access highways but was not restricted from other uses, despite Elon Musk’s claims of better-than-human driving.

Legal commentators suggest the jury found Tesla’s Autopilot defective, as the driver’s actions alone likely didn’t cause the crash. Philip Koopman, an autonomous tech expert, indicated the verdict could imply a defect in Tesla’s software, a major development.

Tesla intends to appeal. The company, located in Austin, and its attorneys did not provide an immediate comment. This ruling could impact Tesla’s development of autonomous driving technology. Its stock dropped 1.8% post-verdict, reflecting investor concern about future liabilities.