Tesla found partially liable for a deadly 2019 crash

Tesla has been found partially liable for a 2019 crash involving its Autopilot self-driving feature. A jury in Florida has ordered the company to pay $43 million in compensatory damages, with the potential for additional punitive damages. The crash resulted in one death and severe injury to another person. The jury determined that Tesla's Autopilot technology enabled the driver, George McGee, to take his eyes off the road, leading to the collision with a couple, Naibel Benavides Leon and Dillon Angulo. While Tesla's lawyers argued that the driver's decision to use his phone was the primary cause, the plaintiffs claimed that Tesla's marketing of Autopilot created the illusion of a safer system than it actually was. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's investigation in 2024 found that Autopilot was "overly permissive" and did not adequately ensure that drivers maintained their attention on the road. Tesla plans to appeal the decision, arguing that the evidence shows the driver was solely at fault and that no car in 2019 or today could have prevented the crash. The case highlights the ongoing debate around the safety and responsibility of self-driving technologies, as Tesla continues to promote its autonomous driving capabilities.