RSSHow to Handle a Tesla Autopilot Accident in Indiana
Consumers in the U.S. were naturally excited when the first “self-driving” cars were launched on the market. The hope was that this new technology would not only make commuting easier but also reduce traffic crashes and resulting injuries and fatalities. As it has turned out, however, Tesla vehicles running on Autopilot have been involved in a number of serious accidents, some of them fatal.
How Many Crashes Have Involved Tesla Vehicles on Autopilot?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has sent teams to investigate 26 traffic crashes involving Autopilot since 2016, as reported by NPR. At least 11 people were killed in these vehicle accidents. Examples of Tesla vehicles on autopilot involved in serious accidents include:
- A Tesla Model S in Pleasanton, California that jumped a curb, hit a brick wall, and caught on fire, killing the driver in January 2020
- A Tesla Model 3 that hit a parked fire truck near Terre Haute, Indiana in December 2019, killing the driver’s wife, a passenger in the vehicle
- A Tesla Model S in Gardena, California that ran a red light at high speed and crashed onto another car, killing two people in December 2019
- A Tesla Model 3 near Delray Beach, Florida that slammed into a tractor-trailer at 68 mph, killing the driver, in March 2019
- A Tesla Model S that slammed into a disabled car on the side of the road that the system failed to detect at 80 mph, seriously injuring the Tesla driver, in October 2018.
- A Tesla Model X P100D that crashed into a barrier on Route 101 in California, catching fire and causing fatal injuries to the driver, in March 2018.
Who Can Be a Victim of a Tesla Autopilot Accident?
Anyone on the roadway – or even on the side of the road – could be a victim of a Tesla Autopilot crash. A dashcam video was recently released showing a Tesla autopilot-driven vehicle slamming into a parked police car, causing it to strike a sheriff’s deputy who was standing on the side of the road on U.S. Highway 64 in North Carolina. Victims of this type of crash may include:
- Drivers injured in Tesla vehicles on Autopilot
- Passengers hurt in Tesla Autopilot-driven car crashes
- Other motorists injured in accidents involving Tesla vehicles on Autopilot
- Bicyclists or pedestrians hit by Tesla vehicles on Autopilot
- Stranded motorists, police, or emergency response personnel hit on the side of the road by Autopilot-driven vehicles
What Types of Injuries Can Tesla Autopilot Crashes Cause?
Like all traffic crashes, collisions involving Tesla Autopilot can cause a wide range of injuries, from minor to fatal. Common severe car accident injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Disfiguring facial injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord damage
- Fractured bones
- Crush injuries
- Amputation
- Severe burns
Who Can Be Held Liable for Tesla Autopilot Crash Injuries?
There may be several potentially liable parties in a Tesla Autopilot accident, depending on the cause of the crash and all contributing factors. If the wreck was caused by faulty technology, the manufacturer may be liable. If it was caused by driver error, the at-fault driver may be responsible for damages. Negligence of another party may have also contributed to the crash.
It is important to collect as much evidence as possible at the scene of the accident, take pictures of everything, and document your injuries and medical treatment. Our Indianapolis personal injury attorneys at Emerson Law LLC can investigate your accident to determine fault and liability and pursue all available forms of compensation.
We are an award winning law firm with over 35 years of experience. If you have been injured in a Tesla Autopilot crash, call us today at (317) 969-8000.
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We are available by phone 24/7 to discuss your case, and we make it a priority to answer all of your questions as soon as possible.
(317) 969-8000