Biplab Das 
In a significant victory for Tesla, the automaker has won its first U.S. trial related to allegations that its Autopilot feature was responsible for a fatal accident. This verdict comes amid multiple ongoing lawsuits and federal investigations concerning Tesla’s autonomous technology.
The Bigger Picture
This win marks the second time this year that juries have ruled in favor of Tesla, stating that its software was not defective. Tesla has been actively developing and deploying its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, with CEO Elon Musk emphasizing their importance to the company’s future. However, these technologies have been under close regulatory and legal scrutiny.
The outcome of the civil lawsuit underlines Tesla’s argument that the ultimate responsibility for road safety lies with the drivers themselves. It sets a precedent that can have implications for future cases involving autonomous driving technology.
The Tragic Accident
The civil lawsuit was filed in Riverside County Superior Court and revolved around an accident where the Autopilot system was alleged to have caused a Tesla Model 3 to veer off a highway, strike a palm tree, and catch fire, resulting in the tragic death of the car’s owner, Micah Lee, and severe injuries to the passengers. The jury was asked to consider USD 400 million in damages, along with punitive penalties.
Tesla denied any liability in the case, claiming that Lee had consumed alcohol before driving and that it was unclear whether Autopilot was engaged at the time of the accident.
The Jury Verdict
The 12-member jury ultimately found that there was no manufacturing defect with the vehicle, and the verdict was reached after four days of deliberation with a 9-3 vote.
Reactions to the Verdict
While the plaintiffs’ attorney expressed disappointment in the verdict, Tesla argued that its cars are well-designed and contribute to road safety. The automaker highlighted that the jury’s conclusion aligns with its position on the matter.
Legal Implications
This verdict reaffirms the idea that the responsibility for vehicle control ultimately rests with the human driver. While it aligns with Tesla’s claims about user responsibility, it also shows that juries are placing a significant emphasis on the role of a human driver when determining liability in accidents involving autonomous systems.
Unique Steering Issues
Notably, the Riverside case involved specific steering issues, making it somewhat different from other lawsuits where plaintiffs have alleged that Autopilot’s design was flawed, leading to misuse.
Stock Reaction
Following the verdict, Tesla’s stock prices closed up 1.76%, rising more than 2%.
Ongoing Investigations
Tesla is still under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice concerning claims related to its vehicles’ autonomous capabilities. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is probing Autopilot’s performance due to several incidents in which Tesla vehicles struck stationary emergency vehicles.
The trial revealed internal Tesla safety analyses from 2017, mentioning an “incorrect steering command” as a defect. However, Tesla argued that this analysis was meant to address potential issues and engineered a system to prevent the turn that led to the crash.
Tesla’s victory in this U.S. trial underscores the complexity of legal cases involving autonomous driving technology and reinforces the importance of driver responsibility. While Tesla’s disclaimers provide strong defenses in civil cases, the regulation of autonomous systems remains a critical concern that requires regulatory attention.
