Nalam Kaakkum Stalin,Stalin,Tamil Nadu

A Florida jury has ordered Tesla to pay \$243 million in damages over a 2019 fatal crash involving a Model S using its Autopilot system. The ruling, delivered on August 1, 2025, marks a rare legal setback for Tesla in cases related to its driver-assistance technology and could pave the way for similar lawsuits. The incident involved Naibel Benavides Leon, who died in the crash, and her then-boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, who sustained severe injuries. The jury awarded $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages to the victims. Tesla was found 33% liable and ordered to pay $42.6 million of the compensatory damages. The driver, George McGee, was held 67% responsible, though he was not a defendant in the case. McGee reportedly dropped his phone and failed to stop at a sign and light before crashing into the victims’ parked SUV.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs argued Tesla’s Autopilot system was designed solely for highways but was not restricted from being used elsewhere, while Elon Musk publicly claimed the system was safer than human drivers. Tesla announced plans to appeal the verdict, calling it "wrong" and claiming it undermines efforts to develop life-saving autonomous technologies. This case is believed to be the first trial over the wrongful death of a third party linked to Tesla's Autopilot. Legal experts say the verdict could encourage more lawsuits and increase settlement costs in the future. Philip Koopman, an autonomous tech expert, noted that the jury’s decision implies they found flaws in Tesla’s Autopilot system.

Tesla defended its technology, stating no vehicle in 2019—or even today—could have prevented the crash, placing full blame on McGee’s actions. Tesla’s shares fell 1.8% after the verdict and have declined 25% this year.