A federal jury trial commenced in Miami concerning a wrongful death lawsuit against Tesla, stemming from a 2019 crash involving the company’s Autopilot system that killed Naibel Benavides and injured Dillon Angulo. Although Tesla CEO Elon Musk is not a party to the case, his influence was a significant factor during jury selection due to public perceptions of his political and corporate persona. Plaintiffs' attorney Brett Schreiber, founding partner of Singleton Schreiber, argued in opening statements that Tesla knowingly deployed a flawed driver-assistance system, framing the case as one of shared responsibility between the distracted driver and Tesla's alleged negligence. Tesla's defense contends that the accident was solely caused by driver error and that no existing technology in 2019 could have prevented the crash. The trial may set a legal precedent for future cases involving Tesla’s Autopilot technology.
Plaintiffs’ attorney Brett Schreiber, Founding Partner of Singleton Schreiber Law Firm, delivered a forceful opening statement, asserting that Tesla’s Autopilot system created the conditions for the tragedy. He argued the case is about shared responsibility, noting that while the driver was distracted and speeding, Tesla bears legal liability for putting a system on the road it allegedly knew was flawed.
“Tesla ignored warnings,” Schreiber told the jury. “They set the stage for this preventable accident. The question is whether they prioritized speed and disruption over safety and accountability.”
Tesla’s legal team maintains that the crash resulted solely from driver error, emphasizing that the driver, George McGee, had overridden the system by accelerating while retrieving his phone. Tesla also argues that in 2019, no crash-avoidance system could have prevented the accident.
The case is Benavides v. Tesla Inc., case number 1:21-cv-21940, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
