San Diego Tesla Accident Lawyer

The Tesla Model Y was the best-selling vehicle in San Diego County as of early 2025, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Despite reduced interest in Tesla vehicles due to the aging product lineup and Elon Musk's political activities, Tesla vehicles still accounted for 41.8% of the battery electric vehicle market in San Diego County in the first quarter of 2025.

Unfortunately, these Teslas can be dangerous on the roads. In fact, data from numerous sources points to serious risks of Tesla cars and trucks, with some sources even alleging that the dangers of Tesla's Autopilot system are understated.  

Teslas have also been involved in a very high number of accidents, many of which have caused serious or fatal injuries. These accidents are more complicated than most because of the importance of determining the role that Autopilot technology played in causing the crash to occur. 

While many attorneys are not equipped to handle claims in this evolving area of law, Singleton Schreiber stands out as a leader and trailblazer in handling these complex cases. In fact, founding partner Brett Schreiber secured a $243 million federal jury verdict for the victims of a 2019 crash involving an Autopilot driver-assistance system.  

Our firm of San Diego injury lawyers have been at the forefront of fighting for clients when Tesla crashes happen, and we are prepared and ready to put our knowledge to work for you. Give us a call to schedule your free consultation today to learn more.

Tesla Autopilot accidents put drivers at risk

While Tesla markets its Autopilot as being safer than human drivers, the reality doesn't necessarily match up with these promises. In fact, NBC News reported in 2024 that a federal regulator had identified "critical" safety gaps in Tesla Autopilot that had been linked to "hundreds of collisions."

NBC referenced an investigation that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had conducted into 956 crashes where Tesla's Autopilot was in use. The research revealed that issues with the Autopilot system had contributed to at least 467 collisions, including 13 collisions that caused fatalities and many others that caused serious injuries.

The NHTSA's report said the design of the Autopilot had "led to foreseeable misuse and avoidable crashes,” with issues including a weak driver engagement system and Autopilot that remains operational even if the driver has completely failed to pay attention to the road. 

This report is one of many that have highlighted problems with Autopilot, including: 

• Failures of the Autopilot technology to recognize other vehicles; to cope with road conditions like sun glare, road curves, or faded lines; or to correctly interpret non-standard road signs.
• Problems the Autopilot has navigating non-standard road layouts
• Challenges navigating complex intersections
• Unintended lane changes and other erratic maneuvers
• Phantom braking
• Glitches in software
• Misleading marketing material that overpromises and convinces drivers to rely too much on Autopilot.

Unfortunately, Tesla has made attempts to fix these issues in past recalls, but has fallen short.  In fact, the NHTSA's recent probe into Tesla issues happened after the release of a software update that covered two million Teslas, which was supposed to address key Autopilot issues.

All Tesla models can present dangers to drivers and passengers

While Tesla's Autopilot system has evolved over time, all models of Tesla vehicles come equipped with certain driver-assist technologies that can exhibit the problems identified by the NHTSA and other sources.

Affected models include: 

• Model S
• Model 3
• Model X
• Model Y
• Cybertruck

Accidents involving any of these vehicles can present unique legal challenges for victims, as they must navigate evolving laws on who is responsible for accidents when self-driving technology is involved.

Finding the right Tesla auto accident lawyer is key to a successful claim

In most standard San Diego auto accidents, the driver who caused the crash is responsible for resulting losses. Things become much more complicated when Autopilot technology is implicated because the responsibility for a collision could lie with: 

• The driver of the vehicle who failed to operate it safely, or who misused the Autopilot system, such as by not paying attention when Autopilot was operational
• Tesla itself, based on unsafe or negligent marketing, false promises surrounding what its software can do, or issues with the design and functionality of the vehicle and its software 

You need to work with a Tesla accident attorney who can identify all potential defendants who are responsible for the accident, and who can understand the different kinds of legal arguments to make in different types of claims.

For example, when Singleton Schreiber secured the landmark $243 million verdict for our client, our legal team demonstrated that Tesla had failed to restrict Autopilot use to the controlled-access highways it had been designed for, thus resulting in improper use of the system. We also demonstrated that the Autopilot technology failed to detect stop signs and flashing lights at an intersection, before driving off the road at a high speed.  

Our firm knows how the laws have evolved with Autopilot technologies, what types of legal arguments to make and evidence to present, and how to help you maximize your chances of a successful verdict.

Contact a San Diego Tesla auto accident lawyer today

The popularity of Tesla vehicles in San Diego County unfortunately means that there is a significant risk of crashes occurring when this technology malfunctions or when drivers don't use it properly.

When an accident happens with a Tesla, Singleton Schreiber will be there for you. We'll work hard from day one to gather dash cam footage, evidence from the car's Event Data Recorder (EDR), police reports, witness testimony, maintenance logs, and other evidence needed to make your case. 

We'll also develop sound legal strategies, pursue claims against the right defendants, and negotiate aggressively on your behalf or put together a solid case in court. Our goal is to make sure we help you hold Tesla and unsafe drivers accountable in appropriate situations, and we bring a solid background in these complex cases to the table.  We also don't charge legal fees unless we win.

To find out more about how our firm can fight for you, give us a call or contact us online today.