Tesla Ordered to Pay $329M in Damages for Fatal Autopilot Crash

A jury in Miami has ruled that Tesla must pay $329 million in damages to the family of a woman who died in a fatal 2019 Autopilot crash and an injured survivor. The payout includes $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages. The crash occurred when a Tesla owner, George McGee, was using the Enhanced Autopilot system and accelerated through an intersection, hitting a parked car and its owners.

A jury in Miami has ruled that Tesla must pay $329 million in damages to the family of a woman who died in a fatal 2019 Autopilot crash and an injured survivor. The payout includes $129 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages. The crash occurred when a Tesla owner, George McGee, was using the Enhanced Autopilot system and accelerated through an intersection, hitting a parked car and its owners.

The trial, which began on July 14 in the Southern District of Florida, centered around who was responsible for the deadly crash in Key Largo, Florida. McGee was driving his Model S electric sedan while using the company's Enhanced Autopilot system. He dropped his mobile phone and scrambled to pick it up, believing that the system would brake if an obstacle was in the way. His Model S accelerated through an intersection at just over 60 miles per hour, hitting a nearby empty parked car and its owners, who were standing on the other side of their vehicle.

Naibel Benavides, who was 22, died on the scene from injuries sustained in the crash. Her body was discovered about 75 feet away from the point of impact. Her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, survived but suffered multiple broken bones, a traumatic brain injury, and psychological effects.

The plaintiffs, including the families of the victims, had sought around $345 million in damages, alleging that Tesla was careless in how it released and marketed the Autopilot system, leading drivers to become overconfident. The trial lasted almost a month, with both parties presenting their closing arguments and the jury deliberating before reaching the verdict.

The ruling is significant for Tesla, as it follows a series of wrongful death lawsuits involving its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems. In recent months, Tesla has settled several similar cases, but the outcome of this trial could set a precedent for future litigation.

References:
[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/tesla-must-pay-329-million-in-damages-in-fatal-autopilot-case.html
[2] https://electrek.co/2025/08/01/victims-of-tesla-autopilot-crash-are-seeking-345-million-in-damages/