Tesla has quietly settled a wrongful death lawsuit connected to a fatal 2019 crash involving its Autopilot technology. The case centered on the death of 15-year-old Jovani Maldonado Garcia, who was killed when a Tesla Model 3 collided with the vehicle he was riding in. The settlement avoids a public trial, with the amount undisclosed.
In 2019, a Tesla Model 3 using Autopilot struck another car, resulting in the death of 15-year-old Jovani Maldonado Garcia, who was a passenger in the impacted vehicle. The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla, arguing that the company's 'self-driving' software failed to detect the car ahead and provide any warning or braking. They also accused the Tesla driver of negligence.
Rather than proceeding to a public trial, Tesla opted for an out-of-court settlement, the details of which, including the financial amount, were not disclosed. Legal experts view this as indicative of Tesla's increasing caution regarding liability risks associated with its driver-assistance technology.
This settlement follows a pattern of similar cases. Just months prior, Tesla paid $243 million to the family of Naibel Benavides in another Autopilot-related fatality. Additionally, a Florida jury awarded $329 million against Tesla in a separate deadly crash, holding the company's technology partially responsible.
These developments signal growing scrutiny of Tesla's Autopilot system, with courts and regulators questioning the company's marketing practices and design decisions. Previously, Tesla emphasized that drivers must remain vigilant, but recent verdicts suggest that argument is losing traction. For Tesla owners, the lawsuits may pressure the company to enhance safety features, potentially reducing reliance on drivers as 'beta testers' for the technology.
As legal challenges mount, Tesla faces decisions on improving its self-driving capabilities or continuing to address incidents through settlements, amid concerns for its reputation and finances.