Tesla Ordered to Pay $243M Over Fatal Autopilot Crash After Hacker Uncover Missing Data

A Miami jury ordered Tesla to pay $243 million in damages over a fatal 2019 Autopilot crash in Florida. A hacker, @greentheonly, uncovered "missing" vehicle data that Tesla claimed was not available. The data showed the Tesla's cameras spotted a vehicle and pedestrian before the crash, contradicting Tesla's claim that the crash was caused by the driver. The company argued the driver was entirely responsible and that Autopilot technology was not involved.

In a significant development in the ongoing legal battle surrounding Tesla's Autopilot technology, the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer has appealed a $243 million verdict in a wrongful death case. The appeal comes after a Miami jury found Tesla partly liable for a 2019 crash that killed a pedestrian and severely injured another, with the company ordered to pay damages to the victims' families.

The incident occurred when George McGee, a Tesla Model S driver, was using the Autopilot driver-assistance system. As McGee approached an SUV parked perpendicularly, neither he nor the Autopilot system applied the brakes, leading to a fatal crash that killed 20-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and seriously injured her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. McGee admitted to being distracted by his phone at the time of the crash.

Tesla has argued that the driver was entirely responsible for the crash and that the Autopilot system was not at fault. The company's lawyers have contended that the jury's verdict was based on "common sense" and that the $243 million award was an "absurd" punishment that would deter innovation in the automotive industry [1][2].

However, the victims' lawyers have maintained that the Autopilot system played a role in the crash and that Tesla misrepresented the software's capabilities. They have also argued that the punitive damages award was appropriate given the company's conduct.

Adding to the complexity of the case, a hacker, @greentheonly, recently uncovered "missing" vehicle data that Tesla claimed was not available. The data showed that Tesla's cameras spotted a vehicle and pedestrian before the crash, contradicting the company's claim that the crash was caused solely by the driver's actions. This new evidence could significantly impact the ongoing appeal [3].

The appeal is being closely watched by investors and financial professionals, as it could set legal precedents for establishing liability in the rapidly evolving field of self-driving cars. If Tesla is found liable, it could pressure other manufacturers to limit or adjust their driver-assistance technologies to mitigate risks.

References:

[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgdjx0vgn3o
[2] https://www.techi.com/tesla-appeals-243-million-verdict-autopilot-crash-lawsuit/
[3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/08/29/tesla-autopilot-crashes-evidence-testimony-wrongful-death/