A Florida jury has ordered Tesla to pay $242 million in damages after ruling its Autopilot system partially responsible for a fatal 2019 crash. The case marks one of the largest legal blows to the electric vehicle giant as debates over self-driving tech accountability heat up. 🔥
What Happened?
In 2019, driver George McGee’s Tesla collided with a Chevrolet SUV in Key Largo, killing passenger Naibel Benavides Leon and injuring her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo. Plaintiffs argued Autopilot failed to prevent the crash, while Tesla claimed McGee was speeding and distracted by his phone. 📵
By the Numbers
💸 $200M in punitive damages
💸 $59M compensatory to Leon’s family
💸 $70M to Angulo
After adjustments, Tesla owes $242M total. The company plans to appeal, calling the verdict a setback for automotive safety innovation. ⚡
Why It Matters
This case could set a precedent for how courts handle "driver vs. tech" liability in autonomous vehicles. As Tesla doubles down on Full Self-Driving (FSD) development, critics demand clearer safeguards. 🛑
What’s next? Legal experts say the appeal could drag on for years – but for now, the message to automakers is clear: innovation can’t outpace accountability. 🌐
