Tesla declined a $60 million settlement offer before incurring a $243 million verdict concerning Autopilot case.
Tesla Faces $243 Million Verdict in First Wrongful Death Autopilot Case
In a significant ruling, a Florida jury has ordered Elon Musk's electric vehicle company, Tesla, to pay $243 million in a fatal Autopilot crash case. This marks the first instance of a wrongful death lawsuit involving Tesla's self-driving technology.
The jury's verdict, handed down this month, includes $129 million in compensatory damages for the estate of Naibel Benavides Leon, who was killed, and her boyfriend Dillon Angulo, who was seriously injured, and an additional $114 million in punitive damages. Tesla was held liable for 33% of the compensatory damages, or $42.6 million, and all of the punitive damages.
The trial, which focused on an April 2019 crash involving a 2019 Model S featuring Autopilot driver-assistance software, was the latest in a series of lawsuits against Tesla over its vehicles' self-driving capabilities. However, this is the first case to reach a verdict, with previous lawsuits either being resolved or dismissed without going to trial.
Lawyers for the plaintiffs disclosed a $60 million settlement proposal made by Tesla in a filing on Monday in the federal court in Miami, Florida. However, Tesla rejected this offer, and the company has denied any wrongdoing, stating that it plans to appeal the verdict.
The driver's Tesla struck the victims' parked Chevrolet Tahoe as they were standing beside it on a shoulder. The incident has raised questions about the safety of Tesla's Autopilot system and potentially dealt a 'black eye' to the company, potentially threatening Elon Musk's robotaxi ambitions.
It's worth noting that Florida law entitles the plaintiffs to the legal fees they accrued since May 30, when the settlement was proposed. The articles reporting on this case were published by Reuters Legal Litigation on August 1, 2025, August 5, 2025, and February 26, 2025, respectively. The articles were reported by Scarcella, edited by David Bario, and Nia Williams.
Tesla has faced numerous lawsuits over its self-driving capabilities, and this verdict could set a precedent for future cases. The jury's decision underscores the importance of ensuring the safety and reliability of autonomous vehicle technology. As the industry continues to evolve, it's crucial that companies prioritise the safety of their users and the public.
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