A jury in Miami has found Tesla partly responsible for a tragic crash in 2019 that resulted in the death of a young woman and serious injuries to her boyfriend. This case marks the first federal trial linked to a fatal accident involving Tesla’s Autopilot feature.
The jury determined that Tesla’s self-driving technology was 33% at fault for the incident. The remaining blame fell on the driver, George Brian McGee. As a result of the verdict, Tesla may be required to pay up to $243 million to the parents of the deceased, Naibel Benavides, and her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. Tesla has announced plans to appeal the decision.
Tesla argued that the verdict undermines automotive safety and could hinder the development of life-saving technology. The company emphasized that Florida law limits punitive damages in product liability cases and expressed confidence that the verdict would be overturned on appeal.
The crash occurred on April 25, 2019, when McGee was driving his Tesla Model S near Key Largo, Florida. He was speeding at 62 mph and ran through a stop sign, crashing into a parked SUV. At the time, the car was in Autopilot mode, but McGee had his foot on the accelerator, which overrides the Autopilot function. He admitted to dropping his phone and looking for it, which distracted him from noticing the intersection.
During the trial, McGee claimed he believed the Autopilot system would prevent a crash. However, attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, have overstated the capabilities of the Autopilot technology. One attorney stated, “The Tesla car is a good car. It’s the Autopilot that will kill you.”
Tesla’s legal team placed full responsibility on McGee, highlighting that he had been using his phone for 13 minutes before the crash and was driving erratically. They pointed out that Tesla’s owner’s manual clearly states that drivers must remain alert and in control of their vehicles.
This verdict comes at a critical time for Tesla as it prepares to introduce self-driving robotaxis in the U.S., with initial testing already underway in Austin, Texas.
