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Tesla partly liable in Florida Autopilot trial, jury awards $200M punitive damages
TeslaTesla(US:TSLA) TechCrunchยท2025-08-01 18:24

Core Points - A jury in Miami found Tesla partly responsible for a fatal crash involving its Autopilot system, awarding $200 million in punitive damages to the plaintiffs [1][2] - The driver was assigned two-thirds of the blame for the incident, while Tesla was attributed one-third of the fault [2] - This verdict marks one of the first significant legal decisions against Tesla regarding driver assistance technology [2] Summary by Sections Legal Findings - The jury's decision comes after a three-week trial concerning a crash that resulted in the death of 20-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and severe injuries to her boyfriend [2] - The crash occurred when neither the driver nor the Autopilot system braked in time, leading to a collision with an SUV and the death of a pedestrian [2] Financial Implications - The awarded damages include $200 million in punitive damages, alongside compensatory damages for pain and suffering [1]