A jury in Miami has ruled that Tesla is partially liable for a fatal crash involving its Enhanced Autopilot system in 2019, requiring the company to pay $329 million in damages to the victim's family and a survivor. This payout consists of $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages, which fell short of the plaintiffs' request for approximately $345 million.
The trial, which began on July 14 in the Southern District of Florida, focused on the circumstances of the crash that occurred in Key Largo. The incident involved a Tesla Model S, driven by George McGee, who was using the Enhanced Autopilot feature when he dropped his phone and attempted to retrieve it. Believing the system would automatically brake for obstacles, McGee's vehicle accelerated through an intersection, striking an empty parked car and two individuals standing nearby.
Naibel Benavides, 22, died from injuries sustained in the collision, while her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, survived but suffered serious injuries, including multiple broken bones and a traumatic brain injury. Plaintiffs’ attorney Brett Schreiber criticized Tesla for not restricting the use of Autopilot to controlled access highways, alleging that the company misrepresented the capabilities of its technology.
Tesla has not commented publicly on the verdict. The ruling occurs as CEO Elon Musk seeks to assure investors of the company’s ability to lead in the autonomous vehicle sector, despite Tesla's stock experiencing a 25% decline this year, including a 1.5% drop on the day of the verdict. This situation continues to evolve as the implications of the ruling and Tesla's response unfold.