In a rare and emotional federal courtroom trial unfolding in Miami, Tesla is facing intense scrutiny over the role its Autopilot system played in a 2019 crash that killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and left her boyfriend, Dillon Angulo, with life-altering injuries. The case, brought by the victims’ families, could be the first to result in punitive damages against the electric vehicle maker, raising broader questions about the safety of Tesla’s driver-assistance technology and the company’s public statements about its capabilities, the Washington Post reported.
A crash, a loss, and a courtroom confrontation
The crash occurred in Key Largo when a Tesla, driven by George McGee, slammed into the couple as they crossed a street. McGee admitted he was looking down to retrieve his phone with Autopilot engaged and missed a stop sign. Benavides Leon was found dead in nearby bushes, while Angulo was severely injured. The victims’ families reached a settlement with McGee but later sued Tesla, alleging that the Autopilot system failed to warn the driver about the road ending and allowed the car to continue in unsafe conditions.
Dash-cam and paramedic body camera footage played in court showed the harrowing aftermath, bringing many in the courtroom—including Angulo and Benavides Leon’s mother—to tears. Tesla attorney Joel Smith told jurors the company sympathized with the families but maintained that the technology available in 2019 was not advanced enough to prevent the crash. “The technology just didn’t exist,” he said.
A rare trial for Tesla as settlements pile up
Tesla has settled at least four similar cases in the past year before they could go to trial, including a six-year legal battle involving a 2019 crash that killed driver Jeremy Banner. His Tesla, also in Autopilot mode, drove under a semitruck trailer after failing to detect it. While Tesla has denied wrongdoing in all settled cases, legal experts say the Miami trial marks a turning point in how the company defends its technology in court.
District Judge Beth Bloom, presiding over the case, ruled that the jury can consider punitive damages against Tesla—meaning jurors could find the company liable not just for negligence but for reckless disregard for human life. That decision was based on Tesla allowing Autopilot to function on roads for which it was not designed, such as undivided streets with unclear lane markings or cross traffic.
Blame and responsibility
Tesla’s defense hinges on the argument that the driver bears ultimate responsibility, a disclaimer included in the car’s user agreements. McGee, who is expected to testify next week, told police at the scene that he was aware of his responsibility and admitted to running the stop sign after taking his eyes off the road. “This poor guy,” he was heard saying in bodycam footage, referring to Angulo, who lay bloodied and motionless.
Plaintiffs attorney Brett Schreiber acknowledged McGee’s fault but argued that Tesla had created the conditions for the tragedy. “Every actor needs a stage,” he said, “and Tesla set the stage for the preventable tragedy that brings us all here.”
Looming questions over Musk and future trials
The trial also raises questions about CEO Elon Musk’s role in shaping public expectations for Autopilot. While Smith urged jurors not to focus on Musk or the company's broader controversies, the billionaire’s recent launch of a fully autonomous Robotaxi and inflammatory comments made by his AI chatbot Grok have fueled debate over Tesla’s safety culture.
Several potential jurors admitted to holding strong opinions about Musk, highlighting the polarizing nature of Tesla’s founder and his influence on public trust in autonomous driving technology.
As more cases head to court in the coming years, legal observers say the Miami trial could set a precedent for how future Autopilot-related litigation unfolds. For now, Tesla faces the possibility of being held financially and publicly accountable in a way it has managed to avoid until now.
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