Tesla is set to face what is thought to be its first federal jury in a lawsuit regarding the company’s autopilot driver-assist system.
While the car manufacturer has dealt with similar lawsuits that have stemmed from fatal crashes in cars equipped with this system, this is the first time that one of the cases has progressed to a civil jury trial, according to reports.
The suit is regarding a 2019 crash that took place in South Florida, USA. When the driver of the Tesla dropped his phone and bent to look for it, the car crashed into a parked car, killing one pedestrian and injuring another.
One of the reasons that this case has progressed further than previous suits is that the plaintiffs - the family and boyfriend of the deceased, Naibel Benavides - were able to obtain detailed video imagery stored in the car’s computer.
The driver in the case, George McGee, was sued separately by the plaintiffs. The case was settled. And in a separate criminal trial, he pled no contest to the charge of careless driving and was given a $1,000, plus $100 for court costs, as per court records.
The NYT said that this footage shows that the Autopilot system recognised the parked vehicle, one pedestrian, and the end of the roadway.
The plaintiffs claim that the system should have activated the brakes and warned the driver of the car that a crash was imminent, according to an order issued by the presiding judge, Beth Bloom, that outlined what evidence and testimony she would allow to be presented in the trial.
Tesla states on its website that the system is ‘an advanced driver assistance system that enhances safety and convenience behind the wheel’ and adds that ‘when used properly, Autopilot reduces your overall workload as a driver.’
The plaintiffs have been allowed to sue for punitive damages from Tesla, which could be costly in the event of finding the company liable.
The New York Times (NYT) also stated that documents in the case suggest that Tesla plans to argue that the driver-assist system was ‘not fully in control of the car at the time of the crash’ and that the driver was solely responsible.
According to the NYT, data from the car shows that he accelerated above the speed limit, which overrode the cruise control part of the system.
Image credit: Mareks Perkons / Shutterstock.com
