Tesla is on the brink of a legal showdown as it gears up to defend itself in two separate trials, both of which revolve around allegations that its Autopilot system played a pivotal role in fatal accidents. These cases, slated for mid-September and early October, could be instrumental in shaping the future of autonomous driving technology, not just for Tesla but for the industry as a whole.
The first trial, scheduled for mid-September in a California state court, involves a tragic incident from 2019. In this accident, the driver, Micah Lee, lost his life, and his passengers, including an 8-year-old boy, were seriously injured when their Model 3 allegedly veered off a highway near Los Angeles, struck a palm tree, and burst into flames, all within a matter of seconds. The lawsuit, filed against Tesla by the passengers and Lee’s estate, accuses the company of being aware of defects in the Autopilot system and other safety features at the time of the vehicle’s sale.
The second trial, set for early October in a Florida state court, centers around a similarly tragic event. In this instance, the driver, Stephen Banner, lost his life when his Model 3 drove under the trailer of an 18-wheeler truck north of Miami. According to the lawsuit filed by Banner’s wife, Autopilot failed to take any evasive action, such as braking or steering, to prevent the collision. Tesla’s defense has consistently revolved around placing the blame on driver error and reiterating that Autopilot is designed to operate safely when supervised by a human driver. Tesla has also argued that there are no fully self-driving cars on the road at present.
While these trials themselves are significant, their implications reach far beyond the courtroom. Tesla has been a prominent player in the development and promotion of autonomous driving technology, with CEO Elon Musk frequently making bold claims about the capabilities of Tesla vehicles. The outcomes of these trials will test the validity of these claims and could potentially dent Musk’s reputation as a pioneer in engineering and autonomous technology.
One striking aspect of these cases is the revelation that Elon Musk has been closely tied to Tesla’s Autopilot team. Plaintiffs’ attorneys have cited internal emails suggesting that Musk served as the “de facto leader” of the Autopilot project. While Tesla and Musk have remained tight-lipped in response to these allegations, it’s worth noting that Musk has been vocal about his involvement in testing Tesla vehicles equipped with “Full Self-Driving” software, even though the company has repeatedly missed its self-imposed deadlines for achieving full autonomy.
In a previous case in Los Angeles, Tesla successfully defended itself by arguing that it had clearly communicated to drivers that their technology required human supervision, despite the branding of features as “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving.” The jury in that case attributed the accident to driver distraction rather than system failure. However, the current trials take on a different dimension due to the tragic loss of life involved.
The stakes are considerably higher in these upcoming trials. A string of victories for Tesla could potentially bolster the company’s standing and confidence in its Autopilot software, which costs up to $15,000 per vehicle. Such victories might also lead to more favorable settlements in other pending cases related to Autopilot. Conversely, a significant loss for Tesla, especially one resulting in substantial damages, could dramatically alter the narrative around autonomous driving technology and Tesla’s role in it.
These legal proceedings may uncover crucial evidence about what Tesla and its leadership knew regarding Autopilot’s capabilities and any potential flaws. For instance, plaintiffs in the Banner case argue that internal documents and employee depositions indicate that no significant changes were made to Autopilot’s systems to account for cross-traffic between a fatal 2016 accident and Banner’s tragic crash in 2019. They contend that Elon Musk himself acknowledged issues with the system’s functionality.
Tesla has also made a recent legal move by seeking to keep deposition transcripts of its employees and other documents confidential. This action has been met with resistance from Banner’s attorney, Lake “Trey” Lytal III, who expressed confidence in the transparency of the judicial system.
In sum, these trials represent a significant crossroads for Tesla, Elon Musk, and the future of autonomous driving technology. The verdicts and the evidence that emerges during these legal battles will likely have far-reaching consequences, not only in terms of legal liability but also in shaping public perception and regulatory decisions surrounding self-driving technology.
Source: Reuters
