Tesla Faces Lawsuit Over Deadly Autopilot Crash in Florida Ahead of Trial

Key Largo, Florida, USA - The heightened scrutiny of Tesla’s Autopilot system continues to shake the automotive world, with recent developments stemming from tragic incidents involving its vehicles. One case that recently garnered attention occurred in Key Largo, Florida, where a lawsuit over a fatal crash involving a Model S will move forward after a federal judge denied Tesla’s motion to dismiss.

On June 27, 2025, reports from MarketScreener revealed that U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom has allowed the estate of Naibel Benavides Leon to proceed with claims against Tesla regarding design defects and failure to warn about the dangers associated with Autopilot. This ruling stems from a tragic incident on April 25, 2019, when George McGee was driving his Model S at approximately 100 km/h. He crashed into a parked Chevrolet Tahoe, which resulted in severe injuries to his passenger Dillon Angulo and the death of Benavides Leon, who was thrown an astonishing 23 meters from the impact.

Legal Proceedings and Arguments

Despite McGee’s admission of unsafe driving, Judge Bloom pointed out that this acknowledgment does not absolve Tesla of responsibility, particularly since McGee expected Autopilot to prevent such a collision. The evidence presented by the plaintiffs emphasized that defects in the Autopilot system were a „significant factor“ in the resulting injuries, leading the judge to allow claims regarding failure to warn to proceed. However, claims about manufacturing defects and negligent misrepresentation were dismissed, narrowing the focus of the trial, which is set to start on July 14.

These legal clashes echo a broader trend concerning Tesla’s Autopilot technology. Just days before the Florida ruling, it was reported by USA Today that Tesla was facing another lawsuit related to a crash involving a 2024 Model S equipped with Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features. This case, filed on June 23, involves the tragic deaths of David Dryerman, his wife Michele, and their daughter Brooke, who lost their lives in an accident attributed to alleged defects in the vehicle’s design. The complaint primarily argues that the Model S strayed from its lane and failed to apply emergency braking, highlighting the legal challenges Tesla faces in proving the safety and reliability of its self-driving technology.

Broader Implications for Tesla

This string of incidents adds to several challenges Tesla faces regarding its Autopilot system. Another recent case settled out of court involves a 2018 crash in San Francisco, where a driver briefly lost control of his Tesla while playing with his iPhone. The driver died, leaving behind a widow and two children, and it raised further questions about how Tesla markets its technology. The settlement’s amount remains undisclosed, but it underscores ongoing concerns regarding the portrayal of Autopilot’s capabilities compared to its actual functionality. Critics argue that Tesla has overstated the abilities of its Autopilot system, a sentiment reinforced by past statements from CEO Elon Musk claiming it is „probably better“ than human drivers.

In light of these legal battles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is actively investigating Tesla over potential traffic violations related to its robotaxi program. Reports of erratic behavior from these vehicles only add to the company’s woes as it attempts to navigate the legal landscape surrounding autonomous driving technology.

As Tesla gears up for these upcoming court dates, the auto industry—and the public—watches closely. With lives lost and significant public scrutiny, the outcome of these cases could set precedents not only for Tesla but for the entire market of autonomous vehicles. Will the continuing revelations be enough to alter the company’s future trajectory? Only time will tell.