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

A federal jury in Miami has found Tesla partially liable for a 2019 crash in Key Largo, Florida, that killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and seriously injured her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, while the vehicle's Autopilot driver assist system was engaged. The jury ordered Tesla to pay $243 million in damages, including $200 million in punitive damages and $43 million in compensatory damages, after determining that the company's technology failed and that responsibility could not rest solely with the distracted driver.

The driver, George McGee, admitted to being distracted by his cellphone at the time of the crash, but the plaintiffs argued that Tesla's Autopilot system should have disengaged when it detected distraction and should not have been operable on the rural road where the incident occurred. The case also involved allegations from the victims' families that Tesla withheld or lost key data related to the crash, which was later recovered by a forensic expert hired by the plaintiffs. Tesla stated it had made an honest mistake regarding the existence of the evidence.

Neima Benavides, the victim's sister, said the verdict brought justice, while Tesla maintained that the decision was incorrect and would hinder the development of lifesaving automotive technology. > "Today's verdict is wrong, and only works to set back automotive safety and jeopardize Tesla's and the entire industry's efforts to develop and implement lifesaving technology," the company said in a statement.

Tesla plans to appeal the decision and noted that a pre-trial agreement could reduce the amount it ultimately pays. The case has drawn attention from the auto industry, as it could have broader implications for the development of autonomous and semi-autonomous driving systems.