A federal jury in Miami has found Tesla partially liable for a fatal crash involving its Autopilot system, ordering the company to pay $243 million in damages.
The verdict stems from a 2019 collision in Key Largo, Florida, where a Tesla Model S—operating with Autopilot enabled—struck two pedestrians. The crash killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and left her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, with serious injuries, including broken bones and brain trauma.
Jurors awarded $43 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages to the victims’ families. The case is one of the first to hold Tesla legally accountable for the actions of a driver using its driver-assistance technology, despite warnings that drivers must remain alert and in control.
The driver, George McGee, admitted he was distracted while reaching for his phone. But the jury determined that Tesla shared responsibility for allowing Autopilot to operate on a road it wasn’t designed for and for failing to disengage the system when the driver became inattentive.
During the trial, plaintiffs presented forensic evidence showing Tesla initially denied possessing crucial crash data and video, which was later recovered. Tesla has since acknowledged the mistake and said it plans to appeal the verdict.
“This decision sets a new precedent,” said a legal expert following the trial. “It signals that juries may no longer see driver distraction as the sole cause in tech-assisted collisions.”
The ruling could have broader implications for the auto industry, as companies move toward fully autonomous driving. Tesla maintains that Autopilot enhances safety and is not a replacement for an attentive driver.
Shares of Tesla fell 1.5% following the verdict.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Health, Noor Jalal Jalali, met with Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Kabul, Gaziz Akbasov, to press for enhanced health...
For more than 4,000 years, Egypt’s pyramids have stood as marvels of human ambition, but new research raises a tantalising question: did humans real...
Authorities and employers should protect the health of workers who are exposed to extreme heat, according to a report by the United Nations. The UN wa...
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has begun high-level talks in Turkmenistan aimed at boosting regional energy, trade and transit links, ahead of ...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 22th of August, covering the latest developments you need to k...
Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Health, Noor Jalal Jalali, met with Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Kabul, Gaziz Akbasov, to press for enhanced health-sector cooperation, part of a broader bilateral push that includes infrastructure, trade, and humanitarian aid ties.
For more than 4,000 years, Egypt’s pyramids have stood as marvels of human ambition, but new research raises a tantalising question: did humans really build them alone, or did ancient engineers wield technologies we are only beginning to understand?
Authorities and employers should protect the health of workers who are exposed to extreme heat, according to a report by the United Nations. The UN warns that high temperatures are endangering people worldwide with serious health risks.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has begun high-level talks in Turkmenistan aimed at boosting regional energy, trade and transit links, ahead of a trilateral summit with Uzbekistan.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
Honduras has brought back mask mandates as COVID-19 cases and a new variant surge nationwide.
Kuwait says oil prices will likely stay below $72 per barrel as OPEC monitors global supply trends and U.S. policy signals. The remarks come during market uncertainty fueled by new U.S. tariffs on India and possible sanctions on Russia.
Afghanistan’s Minister of Public Health, Noor Jalal Jalali, met with Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Kabul, Gaziz Akbasov, to press for enhanced health-sector cooperation, part of a broader bilateral push that includes infrastructure, trade, and humanitarian aid ties.
Authorities and employers should protect the health of workers who are exposed to extreme heat, according to a report by the United Nations. The UN warns that high temperatures are endangering people worldwide with serious health risks.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 22th of August, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will host Russia’s Vladimir Putin, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and more than 20 heads of government at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin from 31 August to 1 September.
California lawmakers have fast-tracked a redistricting plan giving Democrats a potential five-seat gain in Congress, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing the measure on Thursday to counter Republican efforts in Texas.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment