Tesla Ordered to Pay $243 Million in Fatal Autopilot Crash Case

A Miami federal jury has ordered Tesla to pay $243 million in damages for a 2019 fatal crash involving a Model S operating on its Autopilot system. The incident resulted in the death of 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and serious injuries to her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. The jury awarded $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages, with Tesla liable for 33% of the compensatory damages, amounting to $42.6 million. The driver, George McGee, who was not a defendant in the trial, is responsible for the remaining 67%.

The crash occurred in Key Largo, Florida, when McGee, distracted by his cellphone, failed to stop at an intersection and collided with a parked SUV, striking Benavides Leon and Angulo. The plaintiffs argued that Tesla's Autopilot system failed to disengage or alert McGee to the impending danger, especially on a road it wasn't designed for.

Tesla plans to appeal the verdict, stating that the crash was caused by a distracted driver and not its Autopilot technology. The company emphasized that drivers are instructed to remain attentive and ready to take control at all times when using Autopilot.

This case marks the first trial involving a third-party fatality attributed to Tesla's Autopilot system and may set a precedent for future litigation concerning autonomous driving technologies.