Tesla’s Autopilot System Faces Scrutiny as Crashes Pile Up
The criticism is mounting for Tesla’s Autopilot system as more crashes are being associated with the Autopilot function. While Tesla maintains that its Autopilot system actually makes driving safer, doubts are growing among safety experts and the public.
As reported by the hill.com, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are about twenty-four active crash investigations involving passengers who were driving with the Autopilot function.
How does Tesla’s Autopilot work?
Tesla’s Autopilot feature was designed to help drivers avoid making common driving mistakes, especially those caused by distracted driving. It is not meant to take over driving. The system uses sophisticated software cameras and sensors to detect when an error is occurring and takes over in an attempt to prevent an accident. In some cases, this even means changing lanes on behalf of the driver but common moves include braking before a collision occurs.
In theory this is wonderful, but the system is not foolproof. Since 2016, at least three Tesla drivers have been involved in fatal car accidents where the Autopilot system failed to detect barriers or other objects on the road and did not brake in time to prevent the collision. At least 10 people were also killed in eight accidents that were actually caused by the Autopilot, as reported by the NHTSA. This is not counting a crash that occurred in 2019 and is the subject of a lawsuit.
Pending crash lawsuits against Tesla
There are several pending lawsuits currently filed against Tesla – about 24 to be exact. The NHTSA and NTSB keep track of all crashes that involve Tesla vehicles and the use of any of the Autopilot system features. For example, there were investigations in March, 2019 after another Tesla-involved accident was deadly to a Model 3 driver who collided with a semi-trailer in Delray Beach, Florida.
There are dozens of lawsuits claiming that Tesla’s Autopilot feature caused Tesla cars to swerve into the wrong lanes, among other issues. Most of the car-specific lawsuits against Tesla involve their Model X, but there will undoubtedly be more lawsuits involving the Model 3 as more are sold.
Product liability law
Defective and dangerous products cause thousands of injuries every year. If you were involved in a car crash caused by a defective part or system, contact a product liability lawyer today; they may be able to help you recover damages for your injury and hold the company accountable for their negligence.
In successful product liability cases, a product manufacturer, distributor or seller is held liable for the injuries caused by the defective or dangerous product. Product liability laws vary by state but generally require that a product meet ordinary consumer expectations that a product be free of defects or dangers. When a product fails to meet this threshold, it could end up as part of a product liability lawsuit.
A car accident attorney can help!
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
