Tesla found partially liable for a deadly 2019 crash

A Florida jury found Tesla partially liable for a 2019 crash where Autopilot was engaged. The verdict orders Tesla to pay $43 million in compensatory damages, with punitive damages also expected. The crash occurred when driver George McGee looked away from the road, leading to a collision that killed one person and severely injured another. Tesla's defense argued that McGee's distraction was the sole cause, not Autopilot. Plaintiffs contended that Tesla's marketing created a false sense of security around the feature. The jury allocated two-thirds of responsibility to McGee and one-third to Tesla. Tesla announced plans to appeal, stating the verdict is a setback for automotive safety and that the evidence shows the driver was solely at fault. Previous investigations by the NHTSA have cited driver misuse of Tesla's system as a factor in crashes. The NHTSA also noted Autopilot did not sufficiently ensure driver attention. Tesla's future business, including its Robotaxi service, depends on the advancement of its self-driving technology.