Tesla appeals a damning ruling following a fatal accident
This page is translated from the original post "Tesla fait appel d’un jugement accablant suite à un accident mortel" in French.
- 03/08/2025 18:08
Tesla has been found partially responsible for a crash in Florida but points to the driver’s inattention.
Tesla announced that it would appeal a verdict rendered by a U.S. jury in a lawsuit stemming from a fatal accident that occurred in 2019 in Key Largo, Florida. The tragedy happened when a Tesla, driven by one George McGee, left the road and struck a couple. A 22-year-old woman, Naibel Benavides Leon, lost her life, while her partner was seriously injured.
According to the jury composed of eight people, Tesla’s driver assistance technologies may have contributed to the accident by allowing the driver to divert his attention from the road. McGee acknowledged that he tried to retrieve his fallen phone while driving but claims he trusted the Autopilot he had engaged to keep his vehicle in its lane.
The gray areas of autonomous driving
Tesla nevertheless reminds its customers that its Autopilot system is not a fully autonomous driving system. The manufacturer emphasizes that a driver must remain vigilant at all times and keep their hands on the wheel. In case of inattention, visual and audible alerts are issued, and the system can even deactivate.
Despite these warnings, the jury found that the technology had a share of responsibility and ordered Tesla to pay $324 million in damages, including $200 million in punitive damages. The remainder is divided among the victim’s mother, father, and injured boyfriend.
Tesla’s lawyer, Joel Smith, stressed that the driver himself admitted to being distracted. “He was looking for his phone. That’s a fact. This could have happened in any car. That’s the cause.”
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The victim’s family also sued the driver separately and reached an out-of-court settlement. They accuse Tesla of allowing its systems to operate in an environment that was not conducive.
Elon Musk confirmed the intention to appeal. Tesla now aims to convince the courts that its warnings were clear and that the responsibility for the tragedy primarily lies with the driver’s distraction.
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