Tesla Discreetly Resolves Deadly Autopilot Accident Right Before Jury Evaluation | Carscoops

      The automaker avoids a jury trial related to a fatal 2019 Model 3 Autopilot accident by settling with the victim’s family.

      Tesla has confirmed a confidential settlement regarding the 2019 Autopilot crash case that has concluded a month prior to the scheduled trial after four years of legal proceedings. This settlement follows a $329 million verdict in a comparable incident in Florida.

      In August 2019, a man driving a Ford Explorer Sport Trac was rear-ended by a driver of a 2019 Tesla Model 3 who was utilizing Autopilot. The driver of the Ford lost control, leading to the truck rolling over, resulting in the death of his 15-year-old son, who was not restrained by a seatbelt. Just weeks before the trial was to commence, Tesla subtly settled the ensuing lawsuit.

      The Tesla operator, Romeo Yalung, was reportedly driving at 69 mph (111 km/h) in the third lane of Interstate 880 in California. Surveillance footage shows that the Ford's driver, Benjamin Escudero, signaled and changed lanes ahead of Yalung. Nevertheless, neither Yalung nor the Tesla, which had Autopilot activated at that moment, slowed down to prevent the collision.

      The lawsuit involved several parties, including not only Tesla and Yalung but also Yalung’s wife, who was a passenger. Throughout the four-year duration, Judge Rebekah Everson had the option to dismiss the case but chose to allow it to continue. With the trial approaching, Tesla has opted for a settlement for an undisclosed sum.

      This decision may be surprising given various factors, as Tesla generally has a strong track record in court regarding Autopilot or Full Self-Driving (Supervised) litigations. In most cases, juries and judges have determined that the driver holds responsibility for operation rather than the automaker. Furthermore, the video evidence from the unfortunate crash raises questions about Mr. Yalung’s attentiveness.

      However, this settlement follows a Florida jury's ruling that found Tesla 33 percent liable for another fatal incident involving Autopilot, where the Tesla driver struck two pedestrians and admitted to being distracted at the time. Consequently, the jury awarded the plaintiffs $242 million.

      Tesla is currently appealing that verdict, but facing another courtroom defeat could have significant consequences. Settling the California case may have been a strategic choice to mitigate the risks of encountering a similar outcome.