Tesla Hit With $243M Verdict Over Fatal 2019 Autopilot Crash
Tesla Hit With $243M Verdict Over Fatal 2019 Autopilot Crash In a landmark ruling, a federal jury in Miami has found Tesla partially responsible for a fatal crash in 2019 involving its Autopilot driver-assist system. The company was ordered to pay roughly $243 million in total damages, a major legal setback that could reshape how advanced driving technologies are regulated—and trusted worldwide. The Incident: A Tragic Night in Florida On April 25, 2019, Tesla driver George McGee was behind the wheel of a 2019 Model S in Key Largo, Florida. He was driving at about 62 mph with Autopilot engaged when he dropped his phone. Distracted, McGee failed to stop at a T-intersection , accelerating past a stop sign into a parked Chevrolet Tahoe. Two people— 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and her boyfriend Dillon Angulo —stood nearby. Leon was killed; Angulo suffered severe injuries. Witnesses say McGee believed the vehicle would brake automatically if it detected an obstacle The Dai...