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In 2019, an innocent couple standing next to their vehicles in the Florida Keys were stuck by a Tesla Model S.  The young woman was killed and the young man suffered serious injuries.   The driver of the Tesla had purchased a Tesla Model S with an “Enhanced Autopilot” option.  The driver apparently wanted a vehicle to help with his long commute that enabled his vehicle to do most of the driving so he could do other tasks.

The driver was operating the vehicle in the Florida Keys when he went through a stop sign at an excessive speed and slammed into the young couple.

The driver was negligent in driving through the stop sign and speeding; however, it was clear that he believed the vehicle would have given him a forward collision warning or engaged an automatic braking before colliding with a parked vehicle.  Despite being marketed as one of the most technologically advanced vehicles, the features did not engage.

Tesla Verdict Awarded Damages

In 2025 the federal trial court permitted the victims to seek punitive damages based on evidence that Tesla may have “acted in a reckless disregard of human life for the sake of developing their product and maximizing profit.”  There is evidence of Tesla knowing of the dangers and limitations, failing to implement safeguards, and even improperly misrepresenting that the problems were resolved when they were not. Instead, allowing these dangerous vehicles on the roadway where they have seriously injured and killed other innocent drivers who were doing nothing other than driving down the road. 

The court noted, “the record reflects sufficient evidence, even ignoring the 2023 Recall, that would allow Plaintiffs to pursue punitive damages in this case. As Cummings explained in her report, as early as 2016, the National Transportation & Safety Board (NTSB) recommended in their crash investigation report that Tesla incorporate system safeguards that limit the use of automated vehicle control systems to those conditions for which they were designed.” Plaintiffs also point to numerous public statements Tesla made which arguably misrepresented the risk and limitations of the Autopilot system and improperly suggested that issues present in the crash were resolved. Therefore, because Tesla refused to geo-fence the Autopilot system despite being warned of the dangers and despite record evidence indicating that Tesla was capable of resolving the issue, a reasonable jury could find that Tesla acted in reckless disregard of human life for the sake of developing their product and maximizing profit.”

The jury evidently agreed and awarded the plaintiffs over $200 million dollars in compensatory and punitive damages. The jury found Tesla partially liable for the wrongful death involving a crash on Autopilot in the Tesla vehicle.

Increased Focus on Accountability for Autonomous Vehicle Liability for Accidents

The jury found that Tesla shared responsibility for the accident and concluded that Tesla had overstated the Autopilot system’s capabilities. This shows that while driver behavior is crucial, technology companies cannot elude liability if the self-driving systems contribute to false expectations and misuse.

The court’s ruling sets the stage for more juries to hold manufacturers partly accountable for autonomous vehicle liability. Other companies and driver-assisted systems could face future lawsuits for the safety and marketing of the technology.   

When drivers assume that technology could control the vehicle, misuse and misunderstanding will likely lead to accidents. There must be increased scrutiny of how automakers advertise and implement driver-assist features.

Tesla has announced that it will appeal the verdict and disputes its share of responsibility asserting that the driver was reckless. Despite this, the decision by the jury created a foundation for future accident victim’s claims involving Tesla Autopilot liability and other similar self-driving technologies. The verdict should advance the safety standards and legal accountability going forward.

Schedule a Free, No-Obligation Consultation with a Defective Product Lawyer in Fort Myers, Florida Right Away

If you have been injured in an accident involving a Tesla or other self-driving or autonomous vehicle please contact Board-Certified Fort Myers accident attorney Randall L. Spivey for a free consultation.

Attorney Randall Spivey is recognized this year for the anniversary of his admission to the Florida Bar Association and for his 30 years of helping those injured by the negligence of others in Florida. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Attorney by the Florida Bar Association, where less than 1% of all attorneys in Florida are Board Certified in Civil Trial Law. He has represented those injured by the negligence of others in Southwest Florida and all through the state of Florida.

Randall Spivey is also rated by Martindale-Hubbell as a Preeminent Attorney, which is the highest level for professional excellence and the highest level of skill and integrity. He is also repeatedly recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer for attaining a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement by Super Lawyers magazine. Further, Randall Spivey has been selected as a Top 100 Trial Lawyers, an honor given to only a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in the field.

Should you or a loved one be injured in an accident, please contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. at 239-337-7483 or statewide at 888-447-4839 or online at SpiveyLaw.com for a free initial consultation. We represent those who are injured on a contingency fee basis. You pay us no fees or costs unless you win. Top of Form