Home / Crime and Justice / Tesla Autopilot Blamed in $250M Fatal Crash Verdict
Tesla Autopilot Blamed in $250M Fatal Crash Verdict
21 Feb
Summary
- A woman died and her boyfriend was injured in a 2019 Tesla crash.
- The driver claimed Autopilot failed to brake before impact.
- A judge upheld a $250 million payout to the victims' family.
A federal judge has reaffirmed a substantial payout of nearly $250 million to the family of Naibel Benavides Leon and her injured boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. The tragic incident occurred in April 2019 when a Tesla Model S, allegedly operating on Autopilot, struck the couple's parked vehicle in Key Largo, Florida. Leon, 22, died at the scene, while Angulo suffered severe injuries, including a traumatic brain injury.
The driver, George McGee, admitted to being distracted by his phone at the time of the crash. However, he testified that the Tesla's Autopilot system failed to detect the stop sign, the parked car, or engage its brakes. Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued that Tesla's Autopilot was defective and not ready for public roads, citing numerous past issues.
Tesla's defense contended that Autopilot does not prevent reckless driving and that the crash was solely due to the driver's inattention. Despite these arguments, US District Judge Beth Bloom upheld the jury's verdict from the previous year, stating that evidence supported Tesla's partial fault. This decision marks a significant legal precedent for holding automakers accountable for autonomous features.
