Autonomous vehicle manufacturer Tesla initiates legal action in two cases involving fatal crashes attributed to Autopilot, comparing findings in a confidential manner.
In a series of events, Tesla has found itself embroiled in several legal battles involving its Autopilot feature. In 2019, two fatal accidents involving Tesla vehicles with Autopilot activated took place in Florida. The details of these accidents, as well as the confidential settlement terms, remain undisclosed. It is, however, known that Tesla chose to settle these cases before the trials commenced. A separate incident occurred in Florida, where a woman was tragically killed in an accident involving a Tesla Model S with Autopilot control in April 2019. In a historic verdict, a Florida jury awarded the family of the deceased a record-breaking $243 million in damages. Tesla had the opportunity to settle for $60 million before the trial, but opted to proceed to court instead. The lawyer who successfully represented the plaintiffs in these cases, including the Florida accident, is the same attorney who secured large damage awards in the Florida cases. Despite extensive searches, the name of this legal representative remains undisclosed in the available search results. The first Florida lawsuit involved a 15-year-old boy who died when a Tesla Model 3 in Autopilot mode rear-ended the car he was riding in with his father. The second lawsuit involved two people who lost their lives when a Model S ran a red light and collided with their Honda at an intersection. According to an Electrek report, there have been over 50 known fatal accidents where Autopilot or FSD (Full Self-Driving) played a role. Despite these incidents, Tesla continues to develop and refine its Autopilot and FSD technologies. In the aftermath of the Florida jury's verdict, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs expressed confidence in having even better evidence and potential for a much higher payout in the Florida case. The settlements in the Florida cases were made before negotiations over the plaintiffs' demands began and a verdict was reached, and the terms remain confidential. Tesla's lawyers have since filed a motion to declare the Florida verdict invalid. The legal proceedings in these cases continue, shedding light on the challenges and complexities of autonomous driving technology and its implications for public safety.
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