A Florida jury has found Tesla partially responsible for a deadly 2019 crash involving its Autopilot software, awarding $329 million in damages — a significant legal blow to the electric vehicle maker and its CEO Elon Musk.
The crash killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and left her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, with life-altering injuries. The couple had been standing near a parked SUV at a T-intersection in the Florida Keys when a Tesla Model S, operating with Autopilot engaged, failed to brake and struck them.
Plaintiffs argued that Tesla’s Autopilot system should have detected the danger and intervened. Tesla countered that the driver, George McGee, was fully at fault, claiming he was distracted by his phone and had overridden Autopilot by pressing the accelerator.
Despite Tesla’s defense, the jury assigned the company one-third of the liability for compensatory damages and the full burden of punitive damages. The breakdown includes:
- $129 million in compensatory damages
- $200 million in punitive damages, though that amount could be reduced due to legal limits
Tesla said it would appeal the verdict, calling it “wrong” and claiming the decision could hinder the development of life-saving automotive technologies.
“This was never about Autopilot,” Tesla said in a statement. “No vehicle in 2019 — or today — could have prevented this crash.”
However, the plaintiffs’ attorneys argued that Tesla had marketed Autopilot with exaggerated claims, encouraging misuse. “Tesla’s lies turned our roads into test tracks,” said attorney Brett Schreiber. “They put hype over human life.”
The driver, McGee, testified that he had expected Autopilot to assist him if he made an error. He has since settled separately with the plaintiffs for an undisclosed amount.
This is the first fatal Autopilot case involving Tesla to reach a jury verdict. Previous incidents have been resolved out of court, including a 2018 crash that killed an Apple engineer.
Critics say the verdict signals growing accountability for Tesla’s driver-assistance tech. “Tesla is finally being held responsible for its dangerously flawed design,” said robotics expert Missy Cummings.
The ruling comes amid falling Tesla sales and increased scrutiny of Musk’s leadership and public behavior — all while the company’s self-driving promises face new legal and public challenges.
