A California family has filed a lawsuit against Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, after the death of 31-year-old Genesis Giovanni Mendoza Martinez in a crash involving Tesla’s autopilot feature. The accident, which took place on February 18, 2023, has renewed concerns about the safety of Tesla’s self-driving technology.
Mendoza died after his car, operating on autopilot for 12 minutes, crashed into a firetruck on the highway. The vehicle was traveling at an average speed of 71 mph. His brother, Caleb, who was also in the car, was injured. Four firefighters on the scene also sustained minor injuries.
The family’s attorney, Brett Schreiber, called the crash “entirely preventable,” accusing Tesla of using public roads to test its technology. The lawsuit claims that Tesla’s autopilot system failed to detect the firetruck, pointing to serious issues in its design and functionality.
In response, Tesla argued that the crash might have been partly due to Mendoza’s actions. The company stated that its vehicles have a “reasonably safe design” and that additional warnings wouldn’t have prevented the crash. Tesla maintains that its autopilot feature, when used correctly, enhances road safety.
Critics and the family’s legal team argue that Tesla’s marketing has overstated the capabilities of its autopilot system, leading drivers to trust it more than they should.
Between 2015 and 2022, over 1,000 crashes involving Tesla’s autopilot were reported, alongside more than 1,500 complaints about sudden braking. Schreiber highlighted Tesla’s “troubling pattern” of incidents linked to its self-driving technology, stating that the system isn’t ready for widespread use.
The lawsuit also points to Elon Musk’s role in promoting the technology. The family claims that Mendoza was influenced by Musk’s claims that the system could safely navigate highways.
Government officials, including U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, have criticized Tesla’s autopilot system, calling for stricter regulations.
The Mendoza family hopes the lawsuit will bring justice and prevent future tragedies. They aim to hold Tesla accountable and push for safer autonomous driving technology.
