Tesla must pay damages of 243 million dollars (209 million euros) after a fatal accident with a self-driving car in the United States. A 22-year-old woman was killed and her friend was seriously injured.
The jury of the federal court in Miami ruled on Friday that Tesla is partly liable for the collision in 2019. The car manufacturer was sued by the family of the deceased woman.
In the accident, a Tesla Model S collided with the couple’s parked Chevrolet while the two were standing next to it. The Autopilot driving assistance system ignored a stop sign. The driver is said not to have paid attention because he dropped his phone.
Tesla therefore believes that the driver is fully guilty and wants to appeal the verdict. “Today’s judgment is incorrect. It jeopardizes the efforts of Tesla and the entire industry to develop and implement life-saving technology,” the car manufacturer reports.
Two weeks ago, Tesla reached a settlement in a case about a fatal accident with a self-driving car. The driver of a Tesla Model 3 was killed when she crashed into a truck.