Tesla Ordered to Pay $243 Million in Historic Autopilot Crash Verdict
A federal judge has upheld a significant legal decision against Tesla, requiring the automaker to pay $243 million over a fatal Autopilot crash. This ruling highlights the increasing scrutiny Tesla faces regarding its driver-assistance technology.
Tesla’s Legal Battle Over Autopilot Technology
U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom, based in Miami, denied Tesla’s request to overturn the jury verdict from August 2025. The case stemmed from a tragic accident in Key Largo, Florida, where 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon lost her life, and her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, was left severely injured.
The Crash Details
On the day of the incident, George McGee was driving his Tesla Model S with the Autopilot feature activated. While reaching for his dropped phone, the vehicle sped through a stop sign and a red light, colliding with a parked Chevrolet Tahoe at about 62 mph.
Jury Verdict and Compensation
- The Miami jury found Tesla liable for 33% of the crash.
- Compensatory damages awarded totaled $43 million.
- Punitive damages were set at $200 million.
This verdict represents a historic win for plaintiffs in cases involving Tesla’s Autopilot-related wrongful death scenarios. Tesla had previously declined a $60 million settlement offer, a decision that has now cost the company significantly.
Tesla’s Legal Arguments Rejected
In its efforts to challenge the verdict, Tesla filed a detailed motion arguing that the decision contradicted Florida tort law and due process. However, Judge Bloom found no new arguments that warranted a reversal of the jury’s decision.
Tesla has indicated plans to appeal the verdict to a higher court. Additionally, the company pointed to a pre-trial agreement which it claims could limit punitive damages to three times the compensatory amount.
Expanding Legal Issues for Tesla
The ruling arrives at a precarious time for Tesla, as more lawsuits related to Autopilot incidents have emerged. The company has settled at least four other cases related to Autopilot crashes. One notable case involved the death of a 15-year-old in California.
- In January 2026, Tesla faced a lawsuit linked to a Model X crash that resulted in the death of an entire family of four.
- Regulatory challenges have also increased, with a California judge ruling that Tesla’s marketing of Autopilot was misleading.
This sequence of events underscores a growing trend of legal liability for Tesla. The repeated criticism of its marketing, particularly regarding the capabilities of its Autopilot feature, raises concerns about driver safety and corporate accountability.
The Future of Tesla’s Driver-Assistance Technology
The ongoing legal challenges signal that Tesla may need to reevaluate its approach to driver-assistance systems. Current patterns indicate that the company has encouraged drivers to rely too heavily on its technology without sufficient safeguards in place.
With billions of dollars potentially at stake from future settlements and judgments, Tesla’s handling of litigation related to its Autopilot system is crucial for its reputation and financial health. Going forward, the company faces the possibility of having to dramatically alter its marketing and operational strategies in response to mounting legal pressure.
