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Vehicles with autonomous or self-driving features are becoming increasingly common on our roadways. They, however, present a multitude of dangers to drivers and pedestrians.  There have been many instances of failures in technology and a lack of safeguards causing serious and fatal accidents. The danger has arguably been made worse by the marketing and misrepresentations of the risks and limitations of the autopilot systems.   Many people are lulled into a false sense of security because of misleading marketing.  Vehicle makers have a duty and responsibility to make safe products; and, when accidents are caused by faulty or misleading technology, they are responsible. 

Liability for the Dangers of Defective Self-Driving Technology

In 2025 a federal court permitted the victims of a fatal accident involving a Tesla with an Autopilot system 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, they allowed 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, 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 curing 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.”

A jury apparently agreed and, not only did they find Tesla liable for the crash involving the defective autopilot, but they also awarded punitive damages for total damages exceeding $200 million dollars.

Car Accidents Involving Self-Driving Cars

When a self-driving car causes an accident, the vehicle’s manufacturer or owner may be at fault. The vehicle manufacturer of a self-driving car has an obligation to make safe vehicles. The technology should not be on the road and marketed if it does not work properly. There also can be manufacturing defects that occur both in the hardware and the software of the vehicle. There can also be an argument for liability if there are not adequate instructions for proper use of self-driving technology. The self-driving technology can also give the driver a false sense of security based on the way that the technology was marketed and advertised.

Schedule a Free, No-Obligation Consultation with a Defective Product Lawyer in Southwest 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 and confidential 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. 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 Fort Myers and all through the state of Florida.

Randall Spivey is also A-V rated by Martindale-Hubbell as a Preeminent Attorney, which is the highest level for professional excellence and the highest level of skill and integrity. Super Lawyers magazine has repeatedly recognized him as a Florida Super Lawyer for attaining a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. 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.