Tesla to Face Trial Over Fatal Autopilot Crash
Determining Responsibility in the Death of Wei Huang
Tesla is set to appear in court the week of March 18th in California to determine if the company and its driver-assist software bear responsibility for the fatal crash that claimed the life of Wei “Walter” Huang nearly six years ago.
The Tragic Incident
In March 2018, Huang lost his life when his Model X, operating with Autopilot engaged, collided with a safety barrier along US Highway 101 in Mountain View, California. The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation concluded that both Autopilot and distracted driving played a role in the crash, citing phone data that suggested Huang was engaged in a mobile game at the time.
The Wrongful Death Lawsuit
Despite the findings, Huang’s family pursued a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla in 2019, claiming the vehicle lacked adequate safety features, such as automatic braking, at the time of the incident.
“I got so comfortable under Autopilot, that I ended up blowing by exits because I was immersed in emails or calls.”
According to Reuters, Huang’s lawyers questioned a Tesla witness about the company’s awareness that drivers might not pay attention to the road while using the driver-assistance system. They referenced a 2016 email from former Tesla president Jon McNeill to former Autopilot head Sterling Anderson, in which McNeill admitted to becoming so comfortable with Autopilot that he missed exits while absorbed in emails or calls.
Tesla’s Legal History with Autopilot
While Tesla has faced legal challenges over its driver-assist features in the past, the company has never been found liable. In fact, Tesla emerged victorious in two lawsuits last year that alleged Autopilot contributed to a pair of crashes.
Increased Regulatory Scrutiny
In recent months, federal regulators have intensified their examination of Tesla. The Department of Justice expanded its criminal probe into Autopilot features in October, and Tesla issued a recall for 2 million vehicles, pushing an update intended to make it harder for drivers to misuse Autopilot. However, experts have found these fixes to be largely inadequate in addressing the underlying safety concerns.
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Momentum: With Tesla’s Autopilot under scrutiny, the question of technology outpacing legal frameworks becomes ever more pressing.
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TechSavvy: The road ahead for Tesla seems intertwined with legal and ethical questions, a true test of innovation’s bounds in safety.