A Miami jury found Tesla partially liable for a deadly 2019 crash involving its Autopilot system. Tesla must pay approximately $243 million in damages—roughly $43 million compensatory and $200 million punitive—though the company plans to appeal.
Naibel Benavides (22) died and her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, was severely injured when their vehicle was struck by a Tesla Model S driven by George McGee. McGee had Autopilot engaged while reaching for his phone. The jury assigned 33% liability to Tesla, with McGee bearing the remainder of the fault.
Plaintiffs argued Tesla misled drivers by marketing Autopilot as capable of more than Level 2 driver-assist features. They claimed Tesla allowed Autopilot use on roads it wasn’t designed for and failed to warn sufficiently of its limitations.
Tesla responded that the driver admitted responsibility, and the verdict could hinder innovation in vehicle safety. The company intends to appeal the decision, particularly challenging the size of punitive damages.
This ruling marks Tesla’s first significant jury loss on an Autopilot-linked fatal crash. It comes amid broader scrutiny of the company’s driver‑assistance claims and increasing regulatory attention. Analysts warn the case may open the door to more litigation against Tesla and other autonomous vehicle developers.
