Tesla Held Partly Liable in Fatal Florida Autopilot Crash, Jury Awards $243 Million

In a landmark verdict, a Miami federal jury ruled that Tesla must pay $243 million in damages for a 2019 crash in Key Largo, Florida, where a vehicle operating on its Autopilot driver-assist feature struck and killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and severely injured her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. The driver, George McGee, admitted to being distracted by his phone during the accident, but the jury determined Tesla’s technology and marketing practices bore significant responsibility.

The case is notable not only for its outcome but for making it to trial at all—something few similar cases have done, as Tesla often settles such matters privately. Plaintiffs argued Tesla misled users by branding its system as "Autopilot," encouraging overreliance, and failed to prevent misuse on roads the technology wasn’t designed for. A forensic data expert revealed Tesla had access to critical crash data all along, contradicting the company’s earlier denials and damaging its credibility in court.

Tesla, which plans to launch a driverless taxi service soon, has said it will appeal the verdict and contends that the blame lies solely with McGee, who ran a stop sign at 62 mph. The company also claims a pre-trial agreement caps punitive damages, which may reduce its payout to $172 million.

The outcome is expected to reverberate throughout the auto industry, as it raises legal concerns about autonomous vehicle liability—even when driver error is evident. Legal experts say the verdict could open the door to more lawsuits as questions grow about the limits of driver-assist technologies and the responsibilities of automakers in ensuring they are safely used.