Tesla is required to pay 243 million for the fatal accident involving the autopilot

• Tesla is required to pay 243 million dollars for the accident.
• The jury found the company partially liable for the fatal accident.
• Tesla plans to appeal the court's decision on compensation.

On Friday, September 2, 2025, the jury in Miami found the company Tesla partially liable for the fatal accident that occurred in 2019 in the state of Florida. The court ordered the company to pay 243 million dollars (approximately 209 million euros) to the family of the deceased victim and her surviving children.

How did the court reach this decision?

The accident occurred when the driver of a Tesla Model S ran a red light and collided with a parked Chevrolet Tahoe, which had young people inside. As a result of the incident, 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon was killed, and her friend Dillon Angulo sustained serious injuries. The jury found that Tesla was partially at fault in the death, as the technology of the autopilot was deemed faulty.

The plaintiffs' attorney, Brett Schreiber, stated that the company was clearly not limited to the use of the autopilot with controlled vehicles, although publicly it claimed that the autopilot surpasses human capabilities. The driver, at the moment of the accident, was searching for his phone, which became the reason for his distraction.

Tesla's reaction to the verdict

The company Tesla plans to appeal the court's decision, asserting that the driver is the only one liable for the accident. Tesla believes that the verdict hampers the development of autonomous vehicles and puts the company's future at risk in developing life-saving technologies. They emphasized that the autopilot is a driver assistance system and require that drivers remain attentive while driving.

After the announcement of the verdict, Tesla's stock fell by 1.83% on the NASDAQ. This is the first drop since the company was ordered to pay compensation following a court ruling related to the functionalities of the autopilot.

Tags: Automotive