Tesla Must Pay $329 Million In Damages For Fatal Autopilot Crash

Tesla Inc. was told by a jury to pay $329 million in damages over a 2019 Autopilot crash in Florida that killed a young woman and seriously injured her boyfriend.

A spokesperson for the victims said a jury in Miami federal court found that Tesla was 33% to blame for the collision. A Tesla Model S ran a stop sign at a T intersection in the Florida Keys and rammed into the couple’s parked Chevrolet Tahoe while they were standing next to it. 

Tesla had argued the driver was entirely at fault because he was distracted when he dropped his mobile phone on the floorboard.

“Today’s verdict is wrong and only works to set back automotive safety and jeopardize Tesla’s and the entire industry’s efforts to develop and implement life-saving technology,” Tesla said in a statement. “We plan to appeal given the substantial errors of law and irregularities at trial.”

The Miami suit is one of a handful of crash cases that have gone to trial and the verdict tarnishes Tesla’s near-perfect record in court. The electric-vehicle maker prevailed in two previous trials in California over Autopilot-related crashes and has struck confidential accords to resolve several cases that blamed defective technology for deadly accidents.

The verdict comes as Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk faces enormous investor pressure after the company’s stock has been battered, first by his close affiliation with President Donald Trump, and then by his dramatic falling out with the president.