Tesla^™ Accident Lawsuit

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Tesla^TM advertises its vehicles as “the safest in the world.” However, a series of serious and fatal crashes involving Tesla Autopilot and self-driving technology has raised questions about the safety of the vehicles.

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: LawFirm.com

Last updated: Mar 29, 2024

Tesla Lawsuit 2023 Updates

A person takes a picture of two vehicles involved in a crash

Despite Tesla’s assurances that its vehicles “exceed safety standards” and “are engineered to be the safest in the world,” the electric carmaker’s Autopilot and self-driving features have been connected to hundreds of car accidents. These crashes have resulted in severe injuries and lost lives.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Tesla vehicles using Autopilot and self-driving technology were involved in 273 reported crashes over a nine-month period.

Did you know?

Tesla vehicles accounted for almost 70% of crashes involving advanced driver-assist technology based on NHTSA data.

These accidents suggest that Teslas with Autopilot and self-driving systems may not be as safe as Tesla says.

Tesla Accident Investigations

Multiple government agencies have launched investigations into Tesla and its Autopilot and self-driving technology:

In August 2021, NHTSA started looking into accidents involving Teslas with Autopilot that had crashed into parked emergency vehicles. This probe includes 830,000 Teslas dating back to 2014. About a year later, NHTSA upgraded the probe to an “engineering analysis.” Regulators must take this step before requesting a recall.
In July 2022, the California Department of Motor Vehicles accused the carmaker of falsely marketing its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features as giving drivers autonomous vehicle control.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has opened a criminal probe over Tesla’s self-driving claims. The agency is investigating accidents in which Tesla’s Autopilot was on.

Tesla maintains that its Autopilot is safer than standard driving when accident data is compared.

Tesla Recall

Most recently, Tesla recalled more than 362,000 vehicles with its Full Self-Driving system after the NHTSA determined that the driver-assistance technology increased the risk of accidents.

The NHTSA said the technology allows vehicles to exceed legal speed limits and drive through intersections in “an unlawful or unpredictable manner” and that a part of the system that steers cars on city streets may result in “an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.”

The Feb. 16, 2023, recall affects all four Tesla vehicle models — the Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y — and includes vehicles produced from 2016-2023.

The NHTSA said it would continue investigating Tesla’s Full Self-Driving and Autopilot systems.

Tesla reportedly plans to fix the safety flaws using an over-the-air software update.

Examples of Autopilot & Self-Driving Car Crashes

Serious and fatal accidents involving Tesla electric vehicles with Autopilot and self-driving software have been reported nationwide.

Some common types of Tesla accidents include:

Colliding with a fixed object like a parked emergency vehicle, tree, or concrete wall
Hitting another vehicle head-on
Jumping a curb
Running off a highway
Striking pedestrians

Many Tesla accidents have occurred in California and Texas, where the company has offices.

Can I File a Tesla Lawsuit?

You may be able to file a lawsuit against Tesla if:

You bought or leased a Tesla vehicle in January 2016 or later, and
Your Tesla has Autopilot or self-driving technology

A proposed Tesla class-action lawsuit alleges that Tesla:

Knew about safety problems with its Autopilot and self-driving systems
Misled consumers about the safety and capabilities of its Autopilot and self-driving technology

The lawsuit also claims that Tesla drivers who get software updates essentially “act as untrained test engineers.”

A Tesla accident lawsuit is a type of product liability lawsuit. When a person such as a Tesla driver is hurt by a product they used in a responsible way, they may be able to file a Tesla accident lawsuit seeking compensation for their losses.

Get Help With a Lawsuit Against Tesla

The idea of filing a Tesla Autopilot lawsuit may seem stressful and time-consuming. However, law firms specializing in Tesla lawsuits can handle one of these cases from start to finish.

A law firm can put together a team of personal injury lawyers and other support staff to fight for justice on your behalf.

For example, your legal team can:

Make sure you are eligible to take legal action
Collect evidence to support your claim
File your lawsuit against Tesla before any deadlines
Negotiate your Tesla lawsuit settlement with all defendants
Argue your case in court, if necessary

Tesla Lawsuit Settlements & Verdicts

In general, a person who files a Tesla accident lawsuit may be awarded financial compensation from one of two sources:

Tesla lawsuit settlement: If your legal team and the defendant agree on an amount of compensation to resolve your dispute, you have a Tesla settlement.
Trial verdict: A Tesla lawsuit settlement may not be possible. In that case, your case may move to a courtroom. Then, a judge or jury will decide the winner through a verdict.

Your legal team can help you decide which strategy makes the most sense for you and your family.

Find a Lawyer for a Tesla Autopilot Crash Lawsuit

When it comes to finding a lawyer for a Tesla accident lawsuit, you need an attorney with the experience and resources to go head-to-head with Tesla and its corporate counsel.

If you don’t know where to start, our team at LawFirm.com can help. The law firms in our network all have these vital traits:

Experience: Firms who have handled Tesla lawsuits and similar product liability cases are in the best position to hold powerful manufacturers accountable for any wrongdoing.
National presence: A law firm with attorneys and offices across the country can help no matter where they live in the United States.
No upfront fees: Our Tesla Autopilot lawyers do not charge fees when they take your case or go after compensation on your behalf. Instead, they only get paid if you do.
Results of more than $8 billion: A firm that has maximized payouts for clients is more likely to get you the compensation you deserve.

FAQs About Tesla Accident Lawsuits

Why are people suing Tesla?

Tesla owners and other individuals are filing lawsuits against Tesla for many reasons.

People who have been hurt in crashes involving different Tesla models have filed Tesla accident lawsuits alleging that the vehicles malfunction. For example, some Tesla accident lawsuits claim that Tesla’s Autopilot system has problems stopping for fixed objects. Other Tesla lawsuits say the vehicles have faulty airbags or suddenly accelerated or braked on their own at the time of the crash.

In general, Tesla accident lawsuits allege that the automaker failed to warn purchasers about safety issues.

Family members of people killed in Tesla crashes have filed wrongful death claims against the automotive company.

Recently, a proposed Tesla class-action lawsuit accuses the automaker of misleading consumers about the safety and capabilities of its Autopilot and self-driving features. In less than one year, there were more than 270 reports of auto accidents involving this driver-assist technology.

What is Autopilot on a Tesla?

The Autopilot feature lets a Tesla steer, speed up, and brake within a lane. On its website, Tesla says these functions “require active driver supervision.”

Hundreds of accidents involving Tesla vehicles with Autopilot and self-driving features are raising questions about the safety of this technology.

Can you sue Tesla if you crash on Autopilot?

Possibly, yes. You could be eligible for compensation from a Tesla accident lawsuit if you were in a crash while driving a Tesla on Autopilot. In general, the Tesla accident lawsuit claims that Tesla misrepresented the safety and capabilities of its Autopilot and self-driving technology.

Is there a Tesla class-action lawsuit?

Yes, there is a proposed Tesla class-action lawsuit involving Tesla Autopilot and self-driving technology. The Tesla lawsuit says these features may not work as advertised and place drivers at risk of serious injury.

Is there a Tesla recall?

Yes, Tesla recalled nearly 363,000 cars equipped with its Full Self Driving technology on Feb. 16, 2023, because of safety issues.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said the system “led to an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety based on insufficient adherence to traffic safety laws.”

Who is responsible if a Tesla crashes?

Depending on the situation, different parties, including the Tesla driver or another motorist, could be liable if a Tesla crashes.

However, Tesla could be responsible for the accident if the vehicle’s Autopilot or self-driving technology is to blame.