MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — A Miami federal jury’s $240 million verdict against Tesla in a lawsuit involving its Autopilot system is likely to reverberate across the auto industry, legal experts say.
Friday’s nine-figure verdict, in which jurors found Tesla partially liable for a deadly crash in Key Largo, involved claims that Tesla’s Autopilot system failed to prevent the crash and that the company deceptively marketed the Autopilot as being more powerful and comprehensive than it was.
The company continues to dispute the claims, pinning the blame solely on the driver, and has said it plans to appeal.
Willard Shepard, a former South Florida journalist and transportation attorney, said the public should expect more lawsuits ― and not just against Tesla.
“This verdict says that you can bring this type of evidence forward and win a claim,” Shepard said. “Really, this is a warning not just to Tesla, but all the auto manufacturers that technology, while it can play a great benefit, must be done with extreme caution.”
California-based attorney Miguel Custodio said autonomous robotaxi companies, including Waymo, which plans to launch in Miami in 2026, could also be targets for litigation.
Custodio said, “It’s a good stopping point for the industry to say, ‘We can move forward with this, but we have to be 1000% sure that what we’re rolling out is in the best interest of everybody.’”
Shepard and Custodio said automakers will need to examine their warnings and marketing surrounding self-driving technology.
“More warnings, more notification about the technology only being a tool and that you can’t completely rely on it,” Shepard said.
Custodio said the verdict will “make Tesla go back to the drawing board.”
Shepard said it’s also a good reminder for drivers to be alert even when using autonomous technology.
“It’s still your responsibility as a driver to make sure you’re in control of your vehicle,” he said.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they plan to seek an order to unseal the trial documents in the South Florida case. Experts say that if those are released, future potential plaintiffs will be looking closely.
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