Tesla Ordered to Pay Over $200 Million in Autopilot Crash Case

A Miami jury ordered Tesla to pay over $200 million in punitive damages for a deadly crash involving its Autopilot driver assist technology. The company was held partly responsible for the crash, which occurred in Florida in 2019, and the verdict is seen as a significant blow to Tesla's reputation for safety. The case is notable as it made it to trial, with many similar cases against Tesla being dismissed or settled out of court.

A Miami jury has ordered Tesla to pay over $200 million in punitive damages for a deadly crash involving its Autopilot driver assist technology. The verdict, handed down on July 2, 2025, is seen as a significant blow to Tesla's reputation for safety and could have broader implications for the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

The crash occurred in Florida in 2019 and resulted in the death of a 20-year-old pedestrian, Naibel Benavides Leon, and severe injuries to her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. The Tesla Model S was traveling at 62 miles per hour when it failed to stop at an intersection, hitting a parked SUV where the couple was standing [1].

The jury found Tesla partly liable for the crash, assigning 33% of the blame to the company and 67% to the driver, George McGee. The driver testified that he believed Autopilot would assist him in case of a mistake, but the system failed to prevent the crash [1].

Tesla has faced numerous lawsuits over its self-driving capabilities, but this case is notable for making it to trial. Most similar cases have been dismissed or settled out of court. The verdict could encourage more legal action against Tesla and make future settlements more costly [2].

The verdict is a setback for Tesla as it seeks to expand its robotaxi business and convince investors that its vehicles are safe enough for autonomous driving. Tesla's shares fell 1.8% on Friday following the announcement, and the company has stated it will appeal the decision [2].

The case highlights the ongoing debate over the safety of Tesla's Autopilot technology and the company's marketing of its capabilities. Critics argue that Tesla has oversold the capabilities of Autopilot, leading drivers to become complacent and distracted [1].

The verdict comes as Tesla's electric vehicle sales have fallen, and much of its market value hinges on its ability to pivot into robotics and artificial intelligence [2]. The company has been pushing to rapidly expand its robotaxi business, but the verdict could impede these efforts.

Tesla has stated that the driver, not the vehicle software, was to blame for the crash. The company argued that Autopilot requires constant supervision and that the driver's behavior was the primary cause of the accident [1].

References:
[1] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tesla-autopilot-crash-trial-verdict-partly-liable-rcna222344
[2] https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/transport-logistics/tesla-ordered-florida-jury-pay-us243-million-fatal-autopilot-crash