Lawyers for the plaintiff argue that Tesla’s driver-assistance feature called Autopilot should have warned the driver and braked when his Model S sedan blew through flashing red lights, a stop sign and a T-intersection at nearly 70 miles an hour in the April 2019 crash. Tesla lays the blame solely on the driver, who was reaching for a dropped cell phone.
Musk has intentionally been creating false expectations about the capabilities of these cars for years with the intent of increasing sales. Most people who buy them believe what he says and what they see, or think they see, in the ads. These people almost never read the manuals. If I were on the jury, I would surely have an open mind about finding Tesla liable depending on what else is revealed at trial.