Tesla Partially Liable in Tragic 2019 Autopilot Crash

A Miami jury has delivered a landmark verdict, finding Tesla partly responsible for a devastating 2019 crash that resulted in the death of a woman and serious injuries to her boyfriend, all while the vehicle was operating on Autopilot.

Breaking Down the Verdict: The jury ordered Tesla to pay $200 million in punitive damages, alongside $129 million for pain and suffering. However, due to the jury's allocation of fault—placing Tesla one-third at fault and the driver two-thirds—the actual amount Tesla owes may be less.

The Incident: The tragic accident occurred in the Florida Keys when the Tesla failed to halt at an intersection, colliding with a stationary SUV. This case intensifies the scrutiny on Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, to demonstrate the safety and reliability of their autonomous driving technology.