Tesla Self-Driving Car Accident Lawyer

If a Tesla self-driving vehicle causes an accident that hurts other people, are the accident victims eligible for compensation?

The short answer is “yes,” but who will be liable? That’s a little more complicated.

Consider a Tesla crash on December 29, 2019, in Gardena, California. The driver of a westbound Tesla Model S exited the freeway, failed to stop at a red light, and crashed into the driver’s side of a Honda Civic, killing the driver and passenger in the Civic. The occupants of the Tesla were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated the crash and determined in January 2022 that the Autopilot self-driving feature was engaged during the collision.

Who should be held liable for those wrongful deaths—the driver, Tesla, or both?

The Los Angeles County Superior Court charged the driver with vehicular manslaughter. He later pleaded no contest and was sentenced to two years of probation. The families of the two killed Civic occupants filed separate civil lawsuits against the driver, but also against Tesla, for selling allegedly defective vehicles.

Accidents with Tesla self-driving cars can be complex, but injured victims deserve justice. Chaffin Luhana Tesla self-driving car accident lawyers are currently investigating cases in which individuals were seriously hurt or killed in accidents with a Tesla self-driving vehicle. If you or a loved one has been affected by this type of accident, contact us immediately. We always offer a free initial consultation to help you determine your next steps.

Tesla’s Self-Driving Technology: What You Need to Know

Tesla’s Autopilot feature was first introduced in 2015 when the company released Tesla Version 7.0 software, enabling Autopilot as a feature for Model S drivers. It combined adaptive cruise control and Autosteer, a lane-centering function. The company noted that Autopilot was not a self-driving system and that the driver was still responsible and in control of the car.

Over the years, the system has evolved through software updates, incorporating advanced driver-assistance features such as auto park, automatic turn-signal engagement, assistance in lane changes, parking lot maneuverability, and more. Despite these advancements, Autopilot remains an SAE Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system. That means that while the vehicle can assist with steering, acceleration, and braking, the driver must always remain attentive and in control.

Nevertheless, many consumers believe Tesla’s vehicles are fully autonomous. This may be partially due to the company’s marketing tactics, which sometimes show the car “driving itself” though the driver remains behind the wheel. This misunderstanding often leads to misuse when drivers become overly reliant on the system’s capabilities.

Tesla’s user manuals warn against becoming too reliant on the system, but the branding and promotion of the technology as “Autopilot” or “Full Self-Driving (FSD)” contribute to the misconception. These terms have been criticized as misleading, implying a higher level of automation than the technology is capable of. Unlike a true autopilot system, such as those used in aviation, Tesla’s system requires constant driver supervision.

This difference between perception and reality has led to numerous accidents, with drivers either misusing the system or failing to intervene when necessary. In a 2020 lawsuit, a German court ruled that the Autopilot branding was misleading, highlighting the international concerns surrounding this terminology.

Tesla appealed the finding, and the Higher Regional Court of Munich ruled in the company’s favor, stating that Tesla’s website suitably informed consumers that the vehicles were not fully autonomous.

Accidents in Tesla Vehicles

In 2021, Consumer Reports noted that there had been at least 10 deaths and 33 crashes in the U.S. involving Tesla vehicles where Autopilot was suspected to be a factor. According to a 2023 report in the Washington Post, Tesla self-driving vehicles have been involved in a total of 736 crashes, with 17 fatalities.

One year after the introduction of the Autopilot feature, the driver of a Tesla Model S in China was killed when his car crashed into a stationary truck. Subsequent investigations revealed the Autopilot was engaged at the time of the crash. A few months after that crash, a Navy veteran died after his Model S crashed into the side of a tractor-trailer in Florida.

This was the first Autopilot-related death in the U.S., after which Tesla updated the software to reduce the amount of time a driver could spend with their hands off the wheel before being alerted. A subsequent NHTSA investigation concluded that the crash did not result from a defect.

Tesla continued to update its software while advertising it as capable of full self-driving capability. In March 2018, an Apple employee was killed when his Model X crashed into a barrier in Mountain View, California, while Autopilot was in use.

A month later, a Tesla driver with Autopilot engaged collided with and killed a man who had been assisting at the scene of another crash in Tokyo. The driver, who had fallen asleep at some point during a half-hour of Autopilot, was convicted of criminal negligence and sentenced to three years in prison.

In March 2019, a 50-year-old man died when his 2018 Model 3 drove underneath a truck in Florida. Court documents stated that Autopilot was engaged at the time of the crash. In December 2019, a woman was killed when the Model 3 her husband was driving collided with the rear of a parked fire truck in Indiana. Again, there was potential Autopilot involvement.

In August 2020, a married couple were killed in California after their Tesla veered off the highway. Court documents indicated that Autopilot was active at the time of the crash.

The list continues, with Tesla’s Autopilot feature frequently noted as a possible cause in Tesla-involved crashes.

The NHTSA Investigates Autopilot

In August 2021, the NHTSA opened a preliminary safety defect investigation into Autopilot. U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Ed Markey, D-Mass., called for the Federal Trade Commission to also look into what they called Tesla’s potentially deceptive marketing practices. This was after the administration had received 11 reports that Teslas using Autopilot struck parked emergency vehicles. The incidents resulted in one death and 17 injuries.

According to PBS, the NHTSA ultimately found 467 crashes involving Autopilot, resulting in 54 injuries and 14 deaths. The administration noted that the Autopilot system could give drivers a false sense of security and be easily misused.

Following a two-year probe, Tesla recalled nearly all 2 million of its vehicles to limit the use of its Autopilot feature. Another over-the-air software update warns drivers when they’re not paying attention to the road while the Autopilot’s “Autosteer” function is turned on.

These notifications remind drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. The software may also disengage the Autosteer feature if it determines the driver is not paying attention or if Autosteer isn’t sufficient to control the car in other situations.

In 2024, the NHTSA once again opened another safety investigation into Tesla’s FSD after getting reports of four crashes in low-visibility conditions, including one that killed a pedestrian in Arizona in November 2023.

Some industry experts speculate that Tesla’s “camera-only” approach to its driving systems could cause issues in low-visibility conditions. Weather conditions can impact the cameras’ ability to identify objects correctly. Other companies working on autonomous vehicles use radar and laser sensors in addition to cameras.

Tesla’s website states that its FSD software requires active driver supervision and does not make vehicles autonomous.

The Wall Street Journal Investigates Autopilot

While the NHTSA has been investigating Tesla’s Autopilot for years—investigations that have resulted in recalls and software updates to improve safeguards in the system—the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently implemented its own investigation into why some Teslas have crashed.

The investigation results link the cause of some crashes to Autopilot’s overreliance on computer vision based on digital inputs like video. Based on the examination of 222 Tesla crashes, the WSJ report stated 44 occurred when a Tesla with Autopilot suddenly veered, while another 31 occurred when Autopilot failed to yield or stop for an obstacle.

Again, these incidents were blamed on Tesla’s reliance on camera-based computer vision with radar as a backup on only some models. What the company may do about this potential flaw remains to be seen.

Types of Personal Injuries Possible in Telsa Crashes

Accidents involving Tesla’s self-driving features can result in a wide range of injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): Often from high-speed collisions.
• Spinal cord injuries: May result in paralysis or chronic pain.
• Broken bones: Common in both drivers and passengers.
• Internal injuries: Often caused by the force of impact or deployment of airbags.
• Psychological trauma: This may include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

These injuries often lead to significant medical expenses, loss of income, and emotional distress. Victims deserve compensation to cover these damages and hold the responsible parties accountable.

What Our Clients Have to Say About Chaffin Luhana

Below is a small sampling of the testimonials we have received from our clients:

$4 Million Product Liability Recovery

“I was very pleased with the representation that I received for my case. I had a positive experience with this firm and I would recommend your firm to my family and friends.”

– Judy R., Personal Injury Client

Nearly $3 Million Recovery

“I would tell prospective client[s of your firm] to be patient – trust your lawyers, trust that they know what they are doing, even though it is hard for people not in the business to understand all the legal wording and details.”

– Duane B., Personal Injury Client

$3 Million Product Liability Recover

“[The attorneys] were very thorough as well as informative. They contacted me and explained everything as the case progressed. Roopal was always so friendly and supportive. I felt she cared more about me personally than she did about the case. Because of that, I felt she had far more desire to win the case.”

– Jodie S., Personal Injury Client

Find more testimonials here.

Dedication to Community

Law partners Eric Chaffin and Roopal Luhana and their families established The Chaffin Luhana Foundation in 2010.

A not-for-profit organization, the Foundation encourages the development of human potential and supports community empowerment through the following activities:

• Scholarships: The Chaffin Luhana Foundation awards an annual scholarship to a student who submits an inspiring personal essay to help fight distracted driving.
• Financial gifts: The Foundation awards periodic financial gifts to institutions of higher learning to support scientific research and funds educational scholarships to students.
• Stephanie Victor Legacy Award: The Chaffin Luhana Foundation awards an annual financial gift to one deserving individual who overcame significant challenges and achieved great milestones in his or her life or career.
• Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: Chaffin Luhana has partnered with this organization to benefit those living with spinal cord injuries and paralysis.
• Najee Harris Partnership: We have partnered with Pittsburgh Running Back, Najee Harris, and his Da’ Bigger Picture Foundation to support those in need in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

Firm Awards

The founding partners of Chaffin Luhana have extensive experience in fighting for plaintiffs’ rights:

• Founder Eric Chaffin: Chaffin has handled a wide array of cases against various types of manufacturers, with dozens of multimillion-dollar recoveries.
• Founder Roopal Luhana: Luhana manages the firm’s mass torts division. Throughout her career, she has served on committees in MDLs involving over-the-counter consumer products and defective pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
• Partner Patrick Booth: Booth enjoys using his knowledge and experience to help his clients obtain the best results possible in their personal injury cases.

Chaffin Luhana lawyers have also been named to the prestigious “Super Lawyers” list several years in a row.

Tesla Car Accident Lawsuits

Several lawsuits have been filed against Tesla, alleging the company’s Autopilot system contributed to accidents. Plaintiffs often argue that the company failed to adequately warn users about the limitations of its technology or that the technology itself was defective.

For example, in 2019, the family of a driver who died in a Tesla Model X crash in Mountain View, California, filed a wrongful death lawsuit. In their complaint, they argued that the Autopilot system failed to detect a highway divider and to activate automatic emergency braking, causing the vehicle to collide at high speed. They further argued that Tesla exaggerated the capabilities of its self-driving technology. Tesla settled the lawsuit in April 2024, days before it was expected to go to trial.

In another case, a woman filed a lawsuit after a Tesla Model 3, operating on Autopilot, failed to detect a tractor-trailer moving into its path. The car drove underneath the trailer, shearing off the hood and killing the driver instantly. The NTSB, which investigated the crash, said the truck driver was primarily to blame for pulling into traffic but also said the driver and Tesla were at fault.

The driver’s wife filed the lawsuit, and in November 2023, a Florida judge found “reasonable evidence” that Tesla knew its vehicles had a defective Autopilot system but still allowed the cars to be driven unsafely. The plaintiff was allowed to proceed to trial and bring punitive damages claims against Tesla. Tesla appealed that ruling in December 2023.

In December 2024, plaintiffs filed another lawsuit against the automaker, alleging its claims about Autopilot and FSD capabilities contributed to a fatal crash. The surviving family argues that the driver was misled into believing Tesla’s self-driving capabilities were more capable than they were due to Tesla’s advertising campaigns.

Tesla has fought and is still fighting many similar lawsuits. In each case, Tesla argues that its systems worked as intended and that the accidents were caused by others’ negligence.

Chaffin Luhana Investigating Tesla Car Accidents

Tesla’s self-driving technology has sparked innovation but has also raised serious safety concerns. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident in a Tesla operating on Autopilot or FSD system, you may qualify to file a claim if:

• The Autopilot or FSD feature was active at the time of the crash.
• The crash resulted in significant injuries or property damage.
• Tesla’s system malfunctioned or failed to perform as intended.
• You can demonstrate that the accident was caused, at least in part, by Tesla’s technology.

A Telsa self-driving car accident lawyer can help evaluate your case, gather evidence, and pursue compensation for your damages. Contact us today. We are passionate advocates for plaintiffs and stand ready to help you pursue compensation to the fullest extent allowed under the law.

Call us today at 888-480-1123.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tesla’s Autopilot system?

Tesla’s Autopilot is a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system that assists with steering, acceleration, and braking, but requires active driver supervision.

Are Tesla cars fully self-driving?

No. Tesla’s vehicles are not fully autonomous, despite marketing terms like “Full Self-Driving” or “Autopilot.” Drivers must remain attentive and ready to take control.

What are the common causes of Tesla Autopilot accidents?

Common causes include driver inattention, system limitations, and the vehicle’s failure to detect obstacles or respond appropriately to various traffic conditions.

Who is liable in a Tesla self-driving car accident?

Liability in a Tesla self-driving car accident can vary depending on the specifics of the crash. Sometimes, the driver may be held responsible, mainly if they failed to remain attentive or misused the Autopilot feature. For example, drivers who engage in activities like texting, sleeping, or leaving the driver’s seat while Autopilot is engaged can face liability for negligence.

Tesla, as the manufacturer, may also bear liability if the plaintiffs prove that the Autopilot system malfunctioned, had a design defect, or operated in a way that contributed to the accident. If the system failed to recognize an obstacle, applied the brakes improperly, or provided insufficient warnings to the driver, plaintiffs may argue that the system was defective.

In some lawsuits, plaintiffs argued that Tesla’s marketing of Autopilot as a “self-driving” system misled users into overestimating its capabilities.

In multi-vehicle accidents, liability may extend to other parties, such as other drivers or third-party companies responsible for vehicle maintenance or road conditions. Your Tesla self-driving car accident lawyer can determine all potentially liable parties.

Can I sue Tesla for an Autopilot-related accident?

Yes, if you can show that Tesla’s technology or marketing contributed to the crash and your injuries. Talk to your lawyer for advice on your particular case.

How much compensation can I receive?

Compensation varies depending on the severity of your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. It also depends on what other parties may be liable for the accident. Your lawyer can help answer this question and estimate your total compensation amount.

Do I need a lawyer for a Tesla car accident claim?

A Tesla car accident claim often involves complex legal and technical issues, including proving liability, understanding how Tesla’s Autopilot system functions, and navigating product liability laws. An experienced attorney can help by:

• Evaluating your case: A lawyer will review the evidence, including vehicle data logs, accident reports, and eyewitness statements, to determine if Tesla’s technology, the driver’s actions, or both contributed to the crash.
• Filing legal claims: Attorneys can file lawsuits against Tesla, other drivers, or third parties as needed, ensuring all legal deadlines are met.
• Negotiating with insurers: Insurance companies often attempt to minimize payouts to victims. A lawyer can negotiate on your behalf to secure fair compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
• Working with experts: Legal teams collaborate with accident reconstruction experts and other professionals to build a strong case.
• Pursuing compensation: An attorney will fight for the maximum compensation available, whether through settlement or a trial.

Given the resources Tesla has historically dedicated to defending these cases, having a skilled lawyer on your side is essential to level the playing field and protect your rights.