A New Jersey teen is suing Tesla, claiming the carmaker’s design flaws caused a deadly crash that killed his entire family. The wrongful death lawsuit points directly at Tesla’s safety systems and CEO Elon Musk’s public claims about autopilot technology.
On September 14, 2024, a 2024 Tesla Model S veered off the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge, striking a guardrail and concrete bridge support. The impact killed 54-year-old parents and a 17-year-old sister of Max Dryerman, who filed the suit in Camden federal court last week.
The vehicle was equipped with Tesla’s advanced driver assistance systems, including forward collision warning and emergency lane departure, which the complaint alleges failed to engage and prevent the crash. The suit calls the vehicle “defective and unreasonably dangerous.”
The lawsuit also cites a 2016 statement from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who claimed the company’s autopilot system was “probably better” than a human driver. Dryerman argues this statement misled his father, who was driving at the time of the accident.
Despite all passengers wearing seatbelts, the crash proved fatal. The vehicle allegedly failed to maintain its lane or brake adequately, leading to the collision. No outside vehicles were involved.
Tesla has not responded to requests for comment from NJ.com or Reuters. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
Legal experts say the case could signal a broader reckoning for Tesla’s autopilot and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). If the court finds the software or hardware defective, the ruling could set a precedent, forcing Tesla to overhaul or enhance its safety protocols. It may also encourage similar suits from families involved in crashes where the vehicle’s automation allegedly failed, adding to the mounting scrutiny over autonomous driving claims.
The lawsuit comes amid increasing regulatory attention on Tesla’s safety record. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched investigations into multiple Tesla crashes involving autopilot and full self-driving (FSD) systems. These probes focus on whether Tesla’s technology misled consumers and if the company sufficiently warned users about the limitations of its advanced features.
