Intel stock extends gains after report of possible U.S. government stake
Investing.com -- A federal judge has allowed a lawsuit against Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) to move forward over a fatal crash involving a vehicle using Autopilot technology, setting the stage for a trial next month.
U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami ruled that the estate of Naibel Benavides Leon and her former boyfriend Dillon Angulo can pursue design defect and failure to warn claims against the electric vehicle maker. The plaintiffs will also be allowed to seek punitive damages.
The case stems from an April 25, 2019 incident in Key Largo, Florida, where a 2019 Tesla Model S driven by George McGee struck a parked Chevrolet Tahoe at approximately 62 miles per hour. Benavides Leon and Angulo were standing beside their SUV on the shoulder when the collision occurred.
According to the lawsuit, McGee had reached down to retrieve a cellphone from the floorboard of his Autopilot-equipped vehicle. The car allegedly provided no alerts as it ran through both a stop sign and a stop light before hitting the Tahoe. The impact reportedly threw Benavides Leon 75 feet, resulting in her death, while Angulo sustained serious injuries.
Tesla, based in Austin, Texas, has faced ongoing questions about the safety of its self-driving technology. The company maintains that its Autopilot features are designed for "fully attentive" drivers who keep their hands on the steering wheel, and that these features do not make Tesla vehicles autonomous.
A trial is scheduled to begin on July 14. Lawyers representing Tesla and the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.