North Carolina drivers who are interested in semi-autonomous cars should know that these vehicles are still far from entirely safe. There have been several fatal car crashes involving Tesla’s semi-autonomous cars, and the latest has led to a wrongful death lawsuit. This lawsuit was announced on Aug. 1 and will be filed in Palm Beach County, Florida.
The family is asking $15,000 in damages for the death of a man who, back in March 2019, collided with a big rig while driving a 2018 Tesla Model 3. The crash resulted in the car’s roof being sheared off. The decedent had engaged the Autopilot 10 seconds before the crash, and his hands were no longer detected on the steering wheel from about eight seconds before the crash.
Neither the driver nor the car engaged in any evasive maneuvers. A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board found that the driver was, in fact, speeding. The speed limit on the highway was 55 mph, but he was traveling at 68 mph.
The crash, which is similar to another that occurred in May 2016 and involved a Tesla Model S, is still under investigation. The spokesperson for Tesla has refused to comment on the announcement of the lawsuit.
When a fatal accident arises, the decedent’s family could file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. This could be the other driver or, as with the case above, the automaker itself. Whatever the situation, families may want a lawyer to assess their case and build it up with the help of investigators and other third parties. The lawyer may be able to negotiate on their behalf for a fair settlement out of court that covers pre-death medical bills, funeral and burial expenses, loss of support and whatever else applies.