Tesla Found Partially Liable in Florida Autopilot Crash, Ordered to Pay Damages

A Miami jury has determined that Tesla is partially liable for a 2019 crash in the Florida Keys that resulted in one death and one serious injury while the vehicle's Autopilot driver assistance system was engaged. The jury awarded $200 million in punitive damages and $43 million in compensatory damages, though state laws may reduce the final amount Tesla is required to pay. The jury assigned one-third of the responsibility to Tesla and two-thirds to the driver, who had already settled with the plaintiffs and testified during the trial.

The incident involved a Tesla Model S that, while in Autopilot mode, failed to stop at a T-intersection and collided with a parked vehicle and two pedestrians, killing 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and seriously injuring Dillon Angulo. Tesla's legal team argued that the vehicle was not defective and attributed fault to the driver, alleging he was distracted by searching for his cell phone at the time of the crash.

In a written statement, Tesla spokesperson Jeff McAndrews said the company believes the "verdict is wrong" and cited "substantial errors of law and irregularities at trial," adding that Tesla intends to appeal the decision.

This case is the first in which Tesla has been found liable by a jury for a crash involving its Autopilot system. Previous lawsuits have either resulted in verdicts favoring Tesla or have been settled out of court. The company has faced increased scrutiny from regulators, including a major recall prompted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2023, which raised concerns about Autopilot encouraging driver inattention.

During the trial, plaintiff attorneys argued that Tesla and CEO Elon Musk created unrealistic expectations about Autopilot's capabilities, referencing past statements that suggested the system could prevent all accidents. Tesla's manuals, however, instruct drivers to remain attentive and ready to take control at any time. The company has since updated its system to require more driver engagement and can suspend Autopilot access if inattention is detected.