Tesla gears up for first trial over self-driving vehicle fatality.
Tesla is gearing up for its first court battle, as it faces lawsuits over the failure of its Full Self-Driving (FSD) vehicle’s autopilot assistance features, which reportedly led to fatalities.
This legal challenge is seen as a crucial test for Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his company’s reputation, as the “full self-driving capability” feature is a central part of Tesla’s future plans.
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Critics are already questioning Elon Musk’s judgement, as one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuits alleges that he was the de facto leader of the team responsible for the faulty FSD technology.
Tesla Autopilot Allegedly Involved in Fatal Crashes
The first trial is scheduled for mid-September in a California state court. It revolves around an incident in 2019, where the Autopilot system allegedly caused a Tesla Model 3 to veer off a highway near Los Angeles, resulting in a fatal crash.
The second trial, set for early October in Florida, involves another fatal crash in 2019. The lawsuit claims that Tesla’s Autopilot failed to prevent the vehicle from colliding with a trailer, resulting in the death of the Tesla owner.
Tesla has denied any liability for these accidents, placing the blame on driver error and emphasizing the need for drivers to remain attentive and keep their hands on the steering wheel.
The company maintains that its Autopilot feature is safe when monitored by humans and clarifies that there are currently no fully self-driving cars on the road.
Trials to Test Viability of Self-Driving Car Technology
These trials are expected to shed light on what Elon Musk and other Tesla executives knew about the Autopilot system and any potential deficiencies. Internal emails have already been cited as evidence of Musk’s personal involvement in developing the technology.
In a previous trial, Tesla successfully defended itself against a lawsuit in Los Angeles, where a Model S swerved into a curb. Jurors believed that Tesla had provided sufficient warnings about its system and attributed the accident to driver distraction.
However, the current lawsuits involving fatalities raise the stakes for Tesla’s autopilot technology.
The Epoch Times has reached out to Tesla for comment.
Musk Accused of Knowingly Failing to Fix Navigation Defects
One of the plaintiffs’ attorneys accuses Tesla of making false claims and attempting to blame the victims for the known defects in its autopilot system.
The legal team is seeking punitive damages and has deposed several Tesla executives. Tesla has filed an emergency motion to keep the deposition transcripts and other documents confidential, but the motion is being opposed.
Former executive Christopher Moore testified that Tesla’s Autopilot has limitations and is not designed to detect every possible hazard on the road.
The outcome of these trials will have significant implications for the future of self-driving car technology.
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