The family of Jeffrey Nissen Jr., a 28-year-old motorcyclist killed in an April 2024 collision with a Tesla Model S using Autopilot, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company. They allege misleading marketing led to over-reliance on the system, seek damages and a sales halt, amid updates that the driver will face no criminal charges. The case underscores ongoing scrutiny of Tesla's autonomous tech.
On April 19, 2024, Jeffrey Nissen Jr., 28, from Stanwood, Washington, stopped his motorcycle in traffic on State Route 522 in Snohomish County. A Tesla Model S driven by Carl Hunter of Snohomish, with Autopilot activated about two minutes prior, failed to detect the motorcycle and struck it from behind. Nissen was pinned under the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene.
A probable cause affidavit indicates Hunter was distracted by his phone, with hands off the steering wheel for over a minute before impact. He was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide by Washington State Patrol and booked into Snohomish County Jail but faced no criminal charges.
The lawsuit, filed in Snohomish County Court by Nissen's father, Jeffrey Nissen Sr., accuses Tesla of overstating Autopilot's capabilities, especially for detecting motorcycles, and promoting over-reliance despite supervision requirements. Attorney Simeon Osborn stated, “Had the Tesla system worked as Elon Musk has touted for years, this collision would never have occurred,” and criticized, “They’re using these people as guinea pigs. How many people are going to die before they take it off the market?” Nissen Sr. expressed grief, calling his son “the heart of our family,” and frustration with Tesla's marketing: “They misled people into thinking cars can do more than they can.” Attorneys also cited a California ruling deeming Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving promotions deceptive.
UCLA psychiatrist Eraka Bath, MD, highlighted “driver alarm fatigue,” where repeated alerts lead to ignored warnings, similar to healthcare issues. Attorney Austin Neff noted Tesla's practices encourage road disengagement.
This suit adds to Tesla's Autopilot challenges: the company lost its first such trial in 2025. In 2024, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probed crashes involving Autopilot vehicles striking emergency responders, documenting 11 incidents with 17 injuries and one death.
Tesla has not commented on the lawsuit. The family seeks compensation, safety improvements, and accountability.
