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The smart vehicle collided with a tractor-trailer, tearing off its roof as it skidded underneath the truck.
Tesla is being sued by the family of a 50-year-old Florida man who passed away in a crash while using the company’s Autopilot, an innovative motorist assistance system. The family of Jeremy Beren Banner is suing for wrongful death. An attorney for the family announced the lawsuit on Thursday, although it has reportedly not yet been filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk.
The lawyers representing Banner’s family held a news conference about the family’s wrongful death suit against Tesla, the semi-truck motorist, and the trucking firm he worked for. The 45-year-old driver of the commercial truck was uninjured.
“There’s no question at all, it was defective,” said trial attorney Trey Lytal. “It did not work properly. In fact, it did not work at all.”
According to NBC affiliate WPTV, the lawsuit was announced on Thursday, and it should be filed shortly in Palm Beach County, Florida. A Tesla spokesperson declined to comment. The crash occurred on March 1st, 2019, at 6:17 AM when Banner’s 2018 Tesla Model 3 was traveling southbound on State Highway 441 in Delray Beach and struck an eastbound tractor-trailer.
The Crash Ripped The Roof Off The Model 3, Killing Banner
The crash site, located on southbound US 441, consists of two through travel lanes, divided from the northbound lanes by a median. A left-turn lane makes it possible for vehicles to alter direction & enter the northbound lanes. A right-turn lane allows accessibility to a private driveway into an agricultural facility on the highway’s west side. On both sides of the road, a bicycle lane runs adjacent to the right travel lane. The posted speed limit is 55 miles per hour.
As the Tesla approached the private driveway, the combination vehicle was hauled from the driveway and traveled east over the southbound lanes of US 441. The truck motorist was trying to cross the highway’s southbound lanes and turn left into the northbound lanes. According to surveillance video in the region and forward-facing video from the Tesla, the combination vehicle slowed as it spanned the southbound lanes, even blocking the Tesla’s route.
The Tesla then struck the side of the semitrailer, causing the roof of the Tesla to rip off as the vehicle slid under the semitrailer and continued south. The Tesla came to a rest on the median, about 1,600 feet from where it first hit the semitrailer.
According to the NTSB’s preliminary report, Banner engaged Autopilot approximately 10 seconds before the crash, and the network did not detect the motorist’s hands on the wheel. The report stated that the vehicle was traveling approximately 68 miles per hour before the crash, 13 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. The NTSB notes that both the information and videos show that neither the automobile nor the motorist initiated any evasive movement before the crash. Investigation is still ongoing.
The NTSB’s Complete Investigation Is Expected To Take An Additional Year To Be Finalized
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) continues to gather information on the operation of Tesla’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and the Tesla motorist’s actions leading up to the crash. The investigation will also examine the motorist of the combination vehicle, the motor carrier, highway factors, and survival factors. All elements of the crash remain under investigation as the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes.
An attorney for Banner’s family stated in a press conference on Thursday that Tesla has video footage of the accident from its onboard cameras. However, it’s uncertain whether the family has been given access to this footage.
Tesla’s Latest Autopilot Death Looks Exactly Like A Previous Crash
The crash has parallels with a similar accident that also claimed the life of a Tesla motorist. In May 2016, Joshua Brown’s Model S collided with the side of a tractor-trailer, killing him. The resulting preliminary report from the NTSB did not find Tesla at fault, and it also refuted claims that Brown was watching a movie before the crash.
Banner’s family is the second family to file a lawsuit against the automaker. Earlier this year, the family of Walter Huang sought damages from the automaker due to perceived negligence on Tesla’s part. Huang’s Model X collided with a highway barrier while Autopilot was active in Mountain View, California. Following the crash, Tesla issued a statement casting blame on Huang while simultaneously touting the benefits of its network, though the NTSB’s preliminary report pointed to many contributing factors.
The Self-Driving Vehicles Have Been A Big Focus In The Automobile Industry Lately
It’s quite ironic that this occurred, especially since the main point of a self-driving car is for it to be safer. This type of safe driving technology would require automobiles to have some form of communication with other vehicles to help prevent a collision. Such communication would probably use GPS and other advanced sensors, many of which are already in use or are being further developed. This technology would need to be able not only to communicate with other vehicles but also to detect when other road users, for example, cyclists and pedestrians, are in close proximity to the vehicle.
Wrongful Death Claims Help Address Losses After A Fatal Accident
A wrongful death claim may help establish accountability and offer a way to seek financial compensation for your losses. You may have suffered emotional damages, mental anguish, or loss of consortium. Depending on the circumstances, eligible family members may be able to pursue compensation for these intangible losses, as well as for tangible damages like funeral and burial expenses or the decedent’s accident-related medical care up until the time of death.
Arash Law offers legal support to those who have lost family members or spouses because of negligence.
We can assist you in filing a wrongful death claim in California. Our lawyers have years of experience helping eligible family members seek financial compensation after a fatal accident.
Involved In A Car Accident Caused By An ‘Autopilot’ Or Self-Driving Technology? Reach Out To Our Lawyers At Arash Law
It is important to remember that even a vehicle that is the most technologically advanced has the potential to end up in an accident. If this happens due to an error with the technology, you may be able to seek compensation by filing a claim against the vehicle’s manufacturer. At Arash Law, our car accident lawyers have handled cases that involve serious vehicle defect lawsuits against vehicle manufacturers. Call us at (888) 488-1391 for a free initial consultation.
