Apple engineer's family sues Tesla over fatal crash involving Autopilot
A legal battle ensues as Tesla faces allegations of Autopilot system's role in a tragic accident. The trial sheds light on the controversy surrounding automated-driving technology.
Tesla's controversial automated-driving system is facing trial this week. Jury selection for a wrongful death suit filed by the family of a former Apple engineer, who died in a crash while using the Autopilot feature in his Tesla Model X, is set to start on Monday. The trial is expected to last for several weeks.
Walter Huang tragically lost his life in a car accident involving his Tesla in Silicon Valley on March 23, 2018. The National Transportation Safety Board discovered that the car was on Autopilot mode for almost 19 minutes before the crash occurred, with the vehicle speeding at 71 mph before hitting a concrete median.
This incident has become a significant moment for Tesla, which has faced challenges recently, resulting in a decrease in popularity and a 33% drop in market value this year. CEO Elon Musk and the company maintain that their Autopilot and Full Self-Driving technologies are superior to competitors, playing a key role in Tesla becoming the top electric vehicle manufacturer globally, surpassing Chinese competitor BYD. However, Huang's family believes that Tesla exaggerated the safety capabilities of its Autopilot technology, suggesting that it may not be as reliable as advertised.
A Tesla Model 3 vehicle drives on autopilot along the 405 highway in Westminster, California, U.S., March 16, 2022.
A Tesla Model 3 vehicle drives on autopilot along the 405 highway in Westminster, California, U.S., March 16, 2022.
Mike Blake/Reuters
Related article
Tesla's Autopilot and other similar automated driving systems have received a 'poor' rating from a well-known safety group. The Autopilot technology from Tesla has been under close examination for the past six years following a fatal crash involving Huang. A recent two-year investigation conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration looked into 1,000 Tesla crashes where the vehicles were using Autopilot. The findings revealed that the Autopilot system can lead drivers to feel overly confident, potentially causing them to misuse it in dangerous situations. The NHTSA's report from December 2023 highlighted instances where Autopilot may struggle to safely navigate the road.
NHTSA and the National Transportation Safety Board are looking into accidents that have occurred with Tesla vehicles using driver assist features. This includes incidents where Tesla cars crashed into emergency vehicles at the scene of other accidents.
In response to the December NHTSA report, Tesla issued a recall for all 2 million of its cars in the United States. The purpose of the recall is to provide drivers with additional warnings when Autopilot is activated and they are not focusing on the road or holding the steering wheel.
The company maintains that the technology is safe to use when used correctly and reduces fatalities. Autopilot requires drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and Tesla says people who use the automated-driving technology should keep their eyes on the road.
In the case of Huang's crash, Tesla has stated that his hands were not detected on the steering wheel for six seconds before the crash. According to a blog post dated March 30, 2018, Tesla believes Huang was responsible for the crash because he was playing a video game on his phone while Autopilot was engaged. Huang did not brake or attempt to steer his car away from the concrete barrier before the crash occurred.
Huang's family believes that Tesla is responsible for the car accident, even though Huang was distracted while the car was in motion. They claim that Tesla falsely advertised Autopilot as a self-driving feature when it was not fully developed and had safety issues.
Tesla vehicles are displayed in a Manhattan showroom on January 24, 2024 in New York City. Tesla, the electric car maker, is set to report its fourth-quarter earnings for 2023 after the closing bell Wednesday. Analysts are expecting the company to report earnings of $25.6 billion.
Tesla cars are being showcased in a showroom in Manhattan, New York City on January 24, 2024. The electric car company, Tesla, will be announcing its fourth-quarter earnings for 2023 after the market closes on Wednesday. Analysts are anticipating that the company will report earnings of $25.6 billion.
Image Source: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Related article
Musk said Tesla cars would rise in value, but the opposite happened
Tesla did not provide a comment in response to the request. B. Mark Fong, the lawyer who filed a lawsuit in California state court in May 2019, stated that Mrs. Huang lost her husband and her two children lost their father due to Tesla beta testing its Autopilot software on live drivers.
If the jury rules in favor of Huang’s family, Tesla may have to pay damages, which could accumulate rapidly. Wrongful death cases involving major corporations have sometimes led to settlements exceeding $1 billion.
Tesla’s stock value has been boosted in recent years by the promise of Autopilot, propelling it to become the most valuable automaker globally. Despite this success, Tesla's stock performance in 2024 has been amongst the worst. During a call with analysts in October 2023, Musk expressed his belief that autonomous driving could potentially make Tesla the most valuable company in the world by a significant margin.
Editor's P/S:
The article delves into the complexities surrounding Tesla's Autopilot system, highlighting the ongoing legal battle following a tragic fatal crash. The trial serves as a poignant reminder of the ethical and technological challenges faced by the automotive industry as it navigates the development and implementation of automated driving features. The Huang family's lawsuit raises serious questions about the reliability and safety of Tesla's Autopilot technology and the company's marketing practices.
While Tesla maintains the superiority of its Autopilot technology and its role in reducing fatalities, the incident raises concerns about the potential for misuse and overreliance on such systems. The NHTSA's findings and Tesla's subsequent recall underscore the need for ongoing scrutiny and improvement of automated driving technologies to ensure their responsible use and the safety of road users. The outcome of the trial will have significant implications not only for Tesla but also for the broader automotive industry as it strives to strike a balance between innovation and safety.
