Autopilot-related fatal accidents prompt Tesla's filing of two lawsuits, employing confidential contrasts
In a series of developments, Tesla has settled two lawsuits involving fatal accidents with its Autopilot system, which occurred in California in 2019. The terms of the settlements are confidential, and the amount Tesla paid to settle the cases is not publicly known.
In one of the accidents, a 15-year-old boy died when a Tesla Model 3 in Autopilot mode rear-ended the car he was in with his father. The other accident involved a Tesla Model S running a red light, resulting in a fatal collision.
Tesla's legal team, led by specialists in technology and automotive law, represented the company during the negotiations. Interestingly, one of the lawyers who successfully represented the family in the California cases also represented the family of the teenager killed in the California accident in a previous Florida case.
However, Tesla chose not to settle the Florida case, where a jury awarded the family of a woman killed by a Tesla Model S with Autopilot $243 million in damages earlier this August. The reasons for Tesla's decision to settle in the California cases but not in the Florida case remain undisclosed.
Following the jury's decision against Tesla in August, the lawyer representing the family in the Florida case stated that he had even better evidence and chances for a much higher payout in the California case. His comments suggest that the California case might have had potential for a larger settlement than the Florida case.
It is important to note that Tesla had the opportunity to settle the Florida case for $60 million before the trial, but chose not to. Since then, Tesla's lawyers have filed a motion to declare the verdict in the Florida case invalid.
Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, made a promise in May 2022 that Tesla would never pursue a legal victory in a justified case, even if they had winning chances, and would never give up or settle in unjustified cases. However, the report by Electrek did not provide any new information about Musk's promise or its implications in these cases.
The report by Electrek did not mention any new settlements or legal developments related to the California cases. It also did not provide any new information about Tesla discontinuing the Model S and X or introducing a Mini Cybertruck, the lawsuits wave, Musk's billions, Dojo exit, or BMW iX3.
It is also worth mentioning that there are more than 50 known fatal accidents involving Tesla's Autopilot or FSD. However, the report by Electrek did not provide details about the specific circumstances of these accidents.
As Tesla continues to navigate legal challenges related to its Autopilot system, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact the company and its commitment to safety.
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