A Florida jury has ordered Tesla to pay $242 million to the families of victims in a 2019 Key Largo crash, marking one of the most significant legal challenges to advanced driver-assist technology. The court found the company's Autopilot system partly responsible for the collision that killed Naibel Benavides Leon and injured her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo.
The jury awarded $200 million in punitive damages, plus $59 million in compensatory damages to Leon's family and $70 million to Angulo. After assigning Tesla one-third of the blame, the final verdict totals $242 million.
"Justice was done," said attorney Darren Jeffrey Rousso, who represented the plaintiffs. "The jury heard all the evidence and came up with a fair and just verdict on behalf of our clients."
Tesla's legal team plans to appeal, arguing the crash was caused solely by the driver. "This verdict is wrong and only works to set back automotive safety and jeopardize Tesla's and the entire industry's efforts to develop life-saving technology," they stated.
The case underscores a critical debate over liability, safety standards and the future of semi-autonomous driving systems. As automakers worldwide roll out similar features, this ruling may set a benchmark for how courts balance innovation with accountability.
For a generation of digital natives and tech enthusiasts, the verdict highlights the complex intersection of cutting-edge mobility and legal responsibility, shaping the path forward for EV adoption and road safety across the globe.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
