Can A Vehicle Manufacturer Share Liability For A Florida Crash Caused By A Speeding Driver?
In a severe car accident caused by high speeds, the speeding driver is generally considered to be at fault. Nevertheless, a recent wrongful death lawsuit in Florida against Tesla shows that assigning fault is not always a straightforward process.
Tesla recently agreed to settle a case over the deaths of two teens involved in a car crash in Fort Lauderdale in 2018. While the Tesla Model S was going about 116 mph when the driver lost control of the vehicle, the plaintiffs claimed that Tesla technicians had tampered with the car’s speed limit of 85 mph.
The fatal Fort Lauderdale Tesla crash
According to the lawsuit, the teen was operating a 2014 Tesla Model S vehicle in Fort Lauderdale at an estimated speed of 116 mph before he lost control and crashed into some concrete walls, causing the car to catch fire. Both the driver and a passenger died in the accident.
Prior to the crash, the driver’s parents requested that Tesla enable the software that limits the maximum speed of the car to 85 mph. In an appellate decision from the Florida courts, it was alleged that later, the driver drove the car to a Tesla service center where a technician disabled the software due to complaints about the car’s inability to breach 85 mph.
Tesla settles passenger’s wrongful death claim
The family of the passenger filed a lawsuit against both Tesla and the driver’s estate. The lawsuit was scheduled to be held in April 2026; however, before the trial, Tesla settled. Details of the agreement have not been made public, and Tesla denied any wrongdoing. According to Tesla, the driver’s reckless behavior was responsible for the crash.
The agreement is not a judgment by the courts against Tesla being at fault for the death of Martinez. However, it shows that many people could be involved in a lawsuit because of one traffic incident.
More than one party can contribute to an accident
If one driver violates a stop light and collides with another vehicle, the question of liability should focus on the driver’s carelessness.
However, if some defects in the braking system don’t allow the driver to stop in time, or any other defect, the manufacturer of the vehicle could be held liable.
Such cases might call for looking at other possible responsible parties besides the driver himself.
Possible defendants following a major accident in Florida might be auto manufacturers, component manufacturers, dealerships, maintenance shops and repair shops.
Comparative fault can complicate car accident claims
More than one party can be responsible for an accident. In certain cases, the manufacturer might be to blame. If that’s the case, you’ll need a personal injury attorney who can hold a large corporation like Tesla responsible for their injuries.
Gillette Law represents the interests of those who have been injured in serious auto accidents. Call our Jacksonville personal injury lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin investigating your case right away.
Source:
reuters.com/legal/litigation/tesla-settles-wrongful-death-lawsuit-over-crash-that-killed-florida-teenager-2026-04-20/
