Tesla hit with lawsuit over fatal Model S crash in New Jersey involving Autopilot

The survivors of three victims involved in a fatal accident in New Jersey have sued Tesla at the US District Court for the District of New Jersey. The individuals perished in a Model S with Autopilot on September 14, 2024.

David Dryerman (the driver), his wife Michele Dryerman, and daughter Brooke Dryerman were returning from a music festival when their Tesla Model S veered off the road and crashed into a concrete bridge support. They were all reportedly wearing their seatbelts at the time of impact.

The lawsuit alleges the Dryermans' car left its lane due to a defect in the design. It also failed to activate emergency braking, which could have prevented the accident. The estates also claim that Tesla did not warn David that the Model S was not safe. They have quoted CEO Elon Musk's 2016 comment that Autopilot was "probably better" than human drivers.

The case reads in part, "Thousands of Tesla drivers have relied on Tesla's ADAS technology as though it were capable of safe, fully autonomous self-driving with minor software updates when in fact it is incapable of safely handling a variety of routine roadway scenarios without driver input."

The lawsuit has not specified the compensatory and punitive damages it is seeking.

Tesla has faced multiple complaints stemming from its advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) features. However, it has insisted that Autopilot should only be operated with the driver paying full attention and hands always on the steering wheel.