Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla is a pioneer in self-driving car technology. The company boasts that all new vehicles are equipped with the hardware for Autopilot and full self-driving capability through software updates. However, there have been serious accidents involving Tesla vehicles operating while in Autopilot mode.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a Tesla self-driving car accident in California, J&Y Law can help. Once we decide to take your case, we will work to identify all responsible parties and explore your legal options for obtaining compensation. We are well-known as dedicated advocates of injury victims, having won significant settlements and jury awards. Contact us now for a free consultation.
What Is Tesla’s AutoPilot?
Autopilot is an autonomous driver assistance system (ADAS), technology that is available in every new Tesla vehicle, including Model S, Model X, and Model 3. Basic Autopilot is a standard feature that enables the vehicle to accelerate up to a pre-set speed, brake for other cars or pedestrians, as well as to provide minimal steering to keep the vehicle centered in a lane. These vehicles are also equipped with:
- Emergency braking
- Collision alerts
- Blindspot monitoring
- Adaptive cruise control
Autopilot does make Tesla a fully autonomous car – the system requires drivers to be attentive and prepared to take control of the vehicle at all times.
Tesla Self-Driving Car Beta Program
Tesla also offers Full Self-Driving (FSD) Autopilot; 100,000 consumers are participating in an FSD Beta program, according to the automaker. FSD Autopilot features automatic lane changing that can handle merges, exits, and overtaking and allows drivers to on-ramp and off-ramp during their journey. FSD also comes with an auto-parking system, traffic light and stop-sign recognition, and a ‘summon’ feature, which navigates the car out of a parking space and straight to the driver.
AutoPilot Accidents
In August 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), opened a formal safety probe into Tesla after a number of accidents in which drivers collided with emergency vehicles while Autopilot was engaged. Also, in October 2021, Los Angeles prosecutors filed felony vehicular manslaughter charges against a Tesla Autopilot driver who ran a red light and collided with another vehicle in 2019, killing two people.
The victim’s families have also filed separate lawsuits against Tesla and the driver. The plaintiffs claim that the driver was negligent and allege Tesla sells defective vehicles that can suddenly accelerate and lack an emergency braking system.
Potential Causes
At this juncture, the NHTSA has yet to release the findings of its probe, and the outcome of the criminal and civil cases involving the fatal 2019 Tesla Autopilot accident remains to be seen. However, these accidents can either be attributed to technical glitches, such as fault software, or driver inattentiveness.
Determining who is liable when a Tesla self-driving vehicle causes a car accident that results in injuries requires the skills of an experienced California personal injury attorney. That’s where J&Y Law comes in. Our legal team has the skills and experience to:
- Conduct an extensive investigation
- Obtain and review police reports
- Interview any witnesses
- Obtain data from the Tesla Autopilot system
- Subpoena safety records from Tesla
Our self-driving car accident attorneys collaborate with experts in technology and engineering to determine the cause of the Tesla Autopilot accident. Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to pursue a claim against the Tesla driver and/or the automaker – the dealer may be at fault for negligently repairing the self-driving car.
In addition, a municipal agency that failed to maintain roads, traffic signals, highway markers, or freeway technology causing the Tesla to take an unsafe action may also be held liable. Given that identifying the responsible parties and holding them accountable is challenging, it is essential to work with our experienced Tesla self-driving car accident attorney.
Available Damages
If you have been injured in a self-driving car accident, you can trust us to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve, including economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages will cover actual financial losses, such as:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitative costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
Non-economic damages are intended to cover intangible losses such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, permanent disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life. Regardless of the cause of the Tesla Autopilot accident that caused your injuries, you can depend on us to handle all the details of your claim so that you can focus on healing.
Contact Our Experienced Tesla Self-Driving Car Accident Attorney
Powerful tech companies like Tesla have an unfair advantage over injury victims; it takes an aggressive self-driving car accident attorney to level the playing field. Contact our office today. There is never a fee until we recover for you.