Family Sues Tesla After Model X Allegedly Surged Through Red Light
A Washington family is suing Tesla after their Model X allegedly accelerated through a red light without driver input, causing injuries and damage.
Key Takeaways
- A family in Washington is suing Tesla after their Model X allegedly accelerated through a red light without driver input.
- The lawsuit claims the driver could not stop or control the electric vehicle.
- NHTSA previously linked Tesla acceleration complaints to pedal misapplication.
- The incident raises questions about unintended acceleration, braking, and what the car recorded before the crash.
- The family is seeking damages from Tesla, including compensation for medical treatment and other losses.
What Happened?
Linh Nguyen was stopped at an intersection on June 29, 2023, when his 2023 Model X allegedly accelerated into the intersection, striking a curb. Nguyen and his 14-year-old daughter were injured in the incident.
The lawsuit alleges that Autopilot failed to keep the SUV stopped, accelerated without Nguyen’s input, and prevented him from regaining control by braking or steering.
Questions About Autopilot
Nguyen paid roughly $15,000 extra for the technology, which brings up questions about what system he alleges created the crash. Tesla has never required that type of payment for Autopilot, but it has priced its Full Self-Driving (Supervised) tech suite at that figure.
Similar Incidents
After investigating a fatal 2018 Model X crash in California, the NTSB concluded that Autopilot steered the SUV into a highway gore area. The board also cited the driver’s failure to respond.
In an earlier review of Tesla sudden-acceleration complaints, NHTSA analyzed crash data from 118 incidents and found that the crashes for which event data was available were caused by pedal misapplication, with no evidence of a vehicle fault or ineffective brakes in those cases.
What’s Next?
The public account doesn’t include data like accelerator position, brake application, speed, steering input, and the status of its assistance systems. Each of those would say a lot about what went down.
The vehicle logs and event data could prove either vindicating or damning for Tesla.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model Year | 2023 |
| Model | Tesla Model X |
| Price of Autopilot Technology | $15,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happened to the family?
The family was stopped at an intersection when their Model X allegedly accelerated into the intersection, striking a curb. The driver and his 14-year-old daughter were injured in the incident.
Q: What is the lawsuit alleging?
The lawsuit alleges that Autopilot failed to keep the SUV stopped, accelerated without the driver’s input, and prevented him from regaining control by braking or steering.
Q: How much did the driver pay for the Autopilot technology?
The driver paid roughly $15,000 extra for the technology.
