Miami jury finds Tesla partially at fault in Autopilot crash, orders $200 million in punitive damages
A federal jury in Miami on Friday held Tesla partially responsible for a 2019 car accident that resulted in the death of a pedestrian and severe injuries to another person while the vehicle was in Autopilot mode. The jury awarded the plaintiffs $43 million in compensatory damages for pain and suffering, along with $200 million in punitive damages to discourage similar behavior in the future. The decision is a setback for Tesla and CEO Elon Musk as they endeavor to persuade the public, regulators, and investors of the safety of their self-driving technology. The jury found Tesla accountable for a third of the crash in the Florida Keys that occurred six years ago, noting that neither the Tesla driver nor the Autopilot system braked in time for an intersection. The driver was primarily at fault for reaching for his cell phone when the crash happened. Tesla, which plans to appeal, disagreed with the verdict, asserting it hampers automotive safety advancements. The trial highlighted concerns around how Tesla and Musk market their driver-assistance software, which necessitates constant monitoring by a human driver. Plaintiffs argued that Tesla exaggerated Autopilot's capabilities, leading to the driver's distraction at a critical moment, resulting in the fatal crash. Tesla contended that the driver was at fault due to distraction while reaching for a dropped phone. The jury's decision underscored the need for vigilance in promoting autonomous driving technologies responsibly.
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