Tesla Faces Lawsuit Over Fatal Crash, Allegations of Defective Autopilot
Tesla, the renowned electric car manufacturer, is now facing a lawsuit following a tragic incident that claimed the life of a driver and raised concerns over the potential defects in its Autopilot system. On March 12, 2022, Jyung Woo Hahn, a 46-year-old individual, lost his life in a distressing accident in New York. The incident occurred when Hahn’s Tesla malfunctioned, resulting in a collision with a tree, and subsequently bursting into flames. Tragically, Hahn was allegedly able to survive the initial impact but was trapped inside the burning vehicle.
In response to this devastating incident, Jiyoung Yoon, the plaintiff, has taken legal action against Tesla by filing a lawsuit in the US District Court, Southern District of New York. Yoon accuses Tesla of designing, manufacturing, distributing, and selling a vehicle that was defective and unreasonably dangerous, ultimately leading to Hahn’s fatal injuries, suffering, and eventual death.
The incident took place on the Palisades Interstate Parkway in Rockland County, New York, where Hahn was driving his Tesla. According to the lawsuit, the vehicle’s flawed and hazardous condition directly caused Hahn’s injuries, demise, and subsequent damages suffered by the plaintiff.
The lawsuit seeks judgment against Tesla, demanding compensation for all injuries and damages recoverable by law. This includes economic damages, lost wages and earning capacity, loss of parental guidance, mental anguish, emotional distress, pain and suffering, conscious pain and suffering of Jyung Woo Hahn, punitive damages, costs, and interest.
Interestingly, this legal action comes amidst revelations that Tesla engineers have admitted in their testimonies that the company did not address the Autopilot system’s issues following a fatal crash in the US back in 2016, which also resulted in a driver’s death. According to testimony from company engineer Chris Payne in 2021, the Autopilot system at the time was not designed to detect cross traffic or potential hazards associated with it. Engineer Nicklas Gustafsson provided a similar account during a 2021 deposition.
In a separate lawsuit scheduled for trial in October, another family whose loved one died in a Tesla accident is seeking punitive damages. This intensifies the scrutiny surrounding Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) driver assistance features.
It is worth noting that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated an investigation into the self-driving claims made by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
In light of these distressing incidents and legal actions, Tesla finds itself in an unfavorable position. The outcomes of these lawsuits and investigations will impact the renowned electric car manufacturer, potentially leading to significant changes in the design, implementation, and safety features of its vehicles. While Tesla remains a pioneer in the electric car industry, incidents like these shed light on the need for continuous improvement and accountability in developing advanced driving technologies for a safer future on the roads.
