Bloomberg – Tesla (TSLA) is heading to trial in Southern California to defend itself against accusations that its Autopilot assistance technology was responsible for a fatal crash.
The jury trial, scheduled for Thursday in Riverside County, and another scheduled for October 6 in Palm Beach County, Florida, is the first of several to be held in the coming months. They will test Elon Musk’s slogan that Tesla cars are the safest cars ever.
If the electric car maker turns out to be responsible for the deaths, it would jeopardize the billionaire’s goal of leading the way for fully self-driving cars on crowded city streets and highways. As the global auto industry shifts toward electrification, the promise of autonomy is a crucial part of Tesla’s efforts to differentiate itself and an important factor in its roughly $750 billion valuation.
Tesla indeed It is the subject of lawsuits and investigations by consumers, investors, regulators, automobile safety advocates, state agencies and federal prosecutors.Due to accusations that the company has exaggerated its progress towards hands-free driving. The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is actively investigating whether the automated driving system was defective in connection with at least 17 deaths since June 2021.
One of the main issues in the lawsuits is whether Autopilot’s marketing lulled drivers into a false sense of security, making them believe their cars would drive themselves. Tesla will be a formidable opponent, having prevailed this year in its first trial over a non-fatal Autopilot crash, when a Los Angeles jury rejected a woman’s claim that a driver-assistance system caused her Model S to veer into downtown. street.
Here’s what you should know about the upcoming trials, which are expected to last several weeks.
California case: Trial September 28
Tesla is fighting allegations that it was to blame for a 2019 crash when a Model 3 in Autopilot mode suddenly changed direction and veered off the highway, catching fire and killing the driver after crashing into a tree.
The family of the deceased driver and two passengers who were seriously injured They are seeking unspecified damages, including loss of life, bodily injury and emotional distress.
Tesla disputed its claims that the driver was under the influence of alcohol and that “there is no evidence that the Autopilot system was related to this accident.”
“Even multibillion-dollar companies like Tesla can’t escape liability in court,” said Jonathan Michaels, an attorney for the passengers, Lindsay Molander and Parker Austin. “We are confident that the jury will recognize this and deliver the justice our clients deserve.”
Tesla and its lawyers did not respond to a request for comment.
Florida case: Trial October 6
Tesla is fighting accusations that it was responsible for an accident involving a Model 3 that crashed into the underside of a tractor-trailer 10 seconds after the driver activated Autopilot.
In its defense, the company echoed the federal safety regulator’s conclusion that the driver over-relied on the automation and was not paying attention, despite clear warnings in the car’s owner’s manual and Tesla’s website that Autopilot requires active driver supervision.
The family of deceased driver Jeremy Banner claim they were victims of reckless marketing by Tesla, which led to drivers becoming over-reliant on its software.
Tesla engineers are expected to testify at the trial who may reveal previously undisclosed details about the development of Autopilot and Musk’s involvement in perfecting it.
Last year, a Palm Beach County judge blocked cross-examination of Musk in the case after a lawyer for Banner’s family said the Tesla CEO had “unique knowledge” of the issues in dispute.
A ruling is expected soon on the family’s request for punitive damages, which could significantly increase damages.
Below is a list of pending cases related to fatal Tesla crashes involving Autopilot:
| Demanding | Details of the accident | court | Presentation date | state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family of Lindsey Molander, Parker Austin and Micah Lee | In 2019, Lee’s Model S ran off a highway in Southern California, struck a palm tree, and caught fire. | Supreme Court of California, Riverside County | June 2020 | A jury trial is underway |
| Jeremy Banner’s family | In 2019, Banner’s Tesla Model 3 struck the underside of a tractor trailer crossing a divided highway in Florida. | Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court, Palm Beach, Florida | August 2019 | A jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 6 |
| Giovanni Maldonado family | In 2019, Maldonado died in the passenger seat of his father’s pickup truck that collided with a Model 3 on a freeway near San Francisco. | Supreme Court of California, Alameda County | February 2021 | A jury trial is scheduled for February 13 |
| Walter Huang’s family | In 2018, model Walter Huang | Superior Court of California, Santa Clara County | April 2019 | A jury trial is scheduled for March 18 |
| Nibel Benavides and Dillon Angulo family | In 2019, Benavides was killed and Angulo was injured while standing next to their parked car, which was struck by a Model S at a T intersection in Florida. | US District Court in Miami | May 2021 | A jury trial is scheduled for March 11 |
| Family of Derek and Jenna Monet | In 2019, Derek Monet was injured and his wife, Jenna, died when their Tesla Model 3 crashed into the back of a parked fire truck on an Indiana highway. | US District Court in San Jose, California | February 2022 |
The court will set the trial date |
With assistance from Dana Hall.
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