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Tesla Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Fatal Autopilot Crash
Tesla has reached a settlement with the family members of an Apple engineer who tragically lost his life in a crash in 2018. The incident, which took place on March 23, 2018, resulted in the death of Walter Huang, a 38-year-old engineer. The family of the deceased engineer held Tesla’s Autopilot technology responsible for the fatal crash. In response, Tesla refuted these allegations.
The details of the settlement have not been disclosed to the public. Reports indicate that the civil trial, which was set to commence on Monday, has been avoided as a result of the settlement. When reached for comment, Tesla did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the settlement.
The Tragic Incident
On the fateful day of the crash, Walter Huang was driving his 2017 Tesla Model X in Mountain View, California. At a speed of 71 miles per hour, his vehicle collided with a highway barrier. Despite efforts to rescue Huang from the vehicle before it ignited in flames, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
During the crash, Tesla’s Autopilot feature was engaged, prompting Huang’s family to point the finger at the technology for the accident. They argued that Tesla had not been transparent about the capabilities and limitations of Autopilot. On the contrary, Tesla claimed that Huang was distracted and playing a game on his phone at the time of the crash. Documents submitted by the family to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board suggested that Huang had raised concerns about Autopilot in the past.
The Autopilot Technology
It is important to clarify that Tesla’s Autopilot system, despite its name, functions more like an advanced cruise control system. While providing steering, acceleration, and deceleration assistance, it is not equivalent to true autonomous driving. Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology, on the other hand, offers more advanced features but requires the driver’s full attention and engagement with the road.
Tesla’s legal representatives have requested that the terms of the settlement remain confidential. They expressed concerns that public disclosure of the settlement amount could influence potential claimants or legal representatives, impacting future settlement negotiations in similar cases.
Overall, the resolution of this lawsuit marks a significant development in the realm of autonomous driving technology and highlights the ongoing discussions surrounding the responsibilities of both drivers and manufacturers in ensuring road safety.
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