A U.S. federal judge has upheld a $243 million jury verdict against Tesla in a case involving a fatal crash linked to its Autopilot system. The ruling dismisses Tesla’s bid to overturn the verdict, leaving the company to pursue an appeal.

The crash occurred in April 2019 near Key Largo, Florida, when a Model S equipped with Autopilot struck an SUV parked on the shoulder. The collision killed 22-year-old Naibel Benavides Leon and severely injured her boyfriend.

U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom in Miami said the trial evidence “more than supports” the August 2025 verdict. Consequently, she rejected Tesla’s request to overturn the jury’s decision.

🚗 Verdict Details and Liability

Jurors in August 2025 found Tesla 33 % responsible for the crash. They awarded $19.5 million to Benavides’s estate and $23.1 million to her injured boyfriend. In addition, they granted $200 million in punitive damages.

Tesla argued that the driver, George McGee, should bear full responsibility and that the vehicle was not defective. However, the judge said Tesla offered no new arguments to justify a reversal. As a result, the verdict stands.

⚖️ Legal Arguments and Appeal

In court filings, Tesla said the company should not be held accountable for crashes caused by “reckless drivers.” The automaker maintained that McGee was solely at fault and that punitive damages were inappropriate. However, the judge disagreed.

Tesla now plans to appeal the decision. The company has faced scrutiny in many lawsuits over the safety of its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features. The Autopilot system, which assists steering and speed control, has been controversial for years due to driver misuse and unclear performance boundaries.

📉 Industry and Safety Implications

This federal verdict is significant because it is the first of its kind involving a fatal accident linked to Tesla’s Autopilot system. As a result, critics argue that the ruling may influence future litigation against Tesla and other automakers with advanced driver assistance technology.

Plaintiffs’ lawyers said the decision confirmed their view that Tesla pushed Autopilot onto public roads before it was proven safe. Meanwhile, Tesla has long marketed its technology as a step toward fully autonomous driving, despite warnings that drivers must remain attentive.

📍 What Happens Next

Tesla’s legal team now heads to an appellate court. The company could ask a higher court to reconsider the case. At the same time, similar lawsuits are moving through the legal system. Those cases may raise related issues about liability, software warnings and how automakers communicate system limits to consumers.

As Tesla prepares its appeal, investors and safety advocates are watching closely. The outcome could shape how courts handle future crashes tied to advanced driving technology.