AI
Tesla Accident in Court: Driver or Technology to Blame?
Tesla emphasizes driver error in the 2018 accident, while the family argues with an exaggeration of the software capabilities.
The Negligent Homicide Lawsuit Against Tesla, Being Heard This Week, Represents One of the Biggest Legal Challenges for the Carmaker and Its Autopilot Driver Assistance System. The family of Walter Huang, the Apple engineer who died in 2018, holds Tesla responsible for the fatal crash in which Huang's Model X collided with a barrier on a California highway while the vehicle was using Autopilot.
Tesla Denies Any Fault and Argues that Huang was Distracted by His Smartphone Usage, Thereby Causing the Accident. The US Aviation Authority and the Huang Family Agree that Huang was Distracted in the Moments Before the Accident, However, the Family Argues that Tesla Is Responsible Due to Its Advertising for Autopilot.
If the Huang Family Succeeds, It Could Have Significant Financial Consequences for Tesla and Potentially Lead to Further Lawsuits. Tesla Is Already Facing Additional Litigation in Connection with the Autopilot.
Various authorities, including the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, are investigating Tesla's Autopilot and the more comprehensive technology "Full Self-Driving Capability". The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has initiated more than 40 investigations into accidents that may be linked to the Autopilot and have led to 23 fatalities.
Tesla emphasizes that the Autopilot software is not designed for fully autonomous driving and requires active driver supervision. The systems warn drivers if they are not paying attention to the road. In December, Tesla rolled out a safety update for Autopilot to add more warnings for drivers.
In previous trials, Tesla was able to successfully defend itself. In the Huang case, the family claims Tesla advertised Autopilot as safer than human drivers despite the company knowing serious flaws in the technology that customers would not expect based on the advertising.
The process begins with the selection of the jury on Monday in San Jose, California. Opening statements could follow as early as Thursday, and the trial is expected to last several weeks.
