Tesla might be known for its electric automobiles, but its cars are also famous for their Autopilot function. Although the name implies that the cars are fully automated and safe, the Autopilot function has allegedly led to multiple fatal collision accidents.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is opening a new special crash investigation into one such accident. The accident involved a 2018 Tesla Model 3, and the NHTSA suspects that the Autopilot system may have caused the collision.
Since 2016, NHTSA has launched more than three dozen special crash investigations involving Tesla cars on Autopilot. Those accidents led to 20 crash deaths. Investigators have suggested that the advanced driver assistance system has issues since the vehicles tend to hit parked emergency vehicles like fire trucks.
Filing a defective motor vehicle lawsuit
If a collision caused by errors in your car’s advanced driver assistance systems (like Autopilot) led to your injury, you could sue the manufacturer for the defect. Proving the manufacturer’s negligence isn’t a requirement when it comes to product liability lawsuits, but instead you must prove three things:
- The vehicle or its components had a defect, which was introduced either during its design, manufacturing, handling or shipment.
- The defect caused injury while you were using the vehicle as intended by the manufacturer.
- The vehicle’s condition hadn’t substantially changed from when you originally bought it.
You should remember that if a defect in a car’s electronics or software led to your crash, you might be able to hold the engineers and developers responsible for your injuries. You can sue multiple parties if you can prove their involvement in a defect that led to your injuries.
Because defective motor vehicle lawsuits can involve multiple parties, it might be wise to consult a legal professional. An attorney can help determine who else may be responsible for the defect across the product distribution chain and represent you in court.