Tesla Faces Trial in Fatal Autopilot Crash, Lawyers Clash Over Responsibility
The first trial in the United States over allegations that Tesla’s Autopilot feature caused a deadly crash has begun in Riverside County Superior Court, California. The trial, expected to last several weeks, centers around a civil lawsuit filed by the victims of a fatal crash involving a Tesla Model 3 car. Jonathan Michaels, the lawyer representing the victims, firmly blamed Tesla’s Autopilot driver assistant system in his opening statement, stating, A car company should never sell consumers experimental vehicles. However, Tesla’s attorney countered by arguing that the crash resulted from a classic human error.
The incident in question occurred in 2019 when Micah Lee’s Model 3 suddenly veered off a highway at a speed of 65 miles per hour, resulting in Lee’s death and serious injuries to his two passengers, one of whom was an eight-year-old boy. The lawsuit accuses Tesla of knowingly selling a car with defective Autopilot and safety systems, despite being aware of their flaws.
Tesla, on the other hand, denies these allegations and contends that its Autopilot system is not designed to execute sharp turns on highways. The company claims that the system includes guardrails on the steering wheel angle at high speeds, limiting its ability to steer significantly left or right on highways. Furthermore, Tesla argues that the driver’s intoxication played a role in the crash and emphasizes uncertainty about whether Autopilot was engaged at the time.
Michaels pointed out that when Lee purchased Tesla’s full self-driving capability package for $6,000 in 2019, the system was still in the beta testing phase, indicating that it was not yet ready for release. He also highlighted a known issue at Tesla regarding excessive steering commands and blamed the car’s sharp, 43-degree turn on the freeway.
Throughout the trial, both sides will present evidence and arguments to support their respective claims. The outcome of this case carries significant implications for Tesla and the broader autonomous driving industry, as it will shed light on the responsibility of car manufacturers when accidents occur involving vehicles equipped with driver assistant systems.
As the trial continues, legal experts and industry stakeholders will closely monitor the proceedings, considering the potential ramifications for the future development and regulation of autonomous driving technology. The verdict in this landmark trial could shape the landscape of self-driving vehicles and influence the responsibility manufacturers hold in ensuring the safety of their products.
