Arias Sanguinetti partner Elise Sanguinetti co-authored the article “Litigating Autopilot Products-Liability Cases Against Tesla” for July’s issue of Advocate, the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) monthly magazine. The article focuses on the many hurdles to litigating a products-liability claim against the electronic vehicle giant including its arbitration clause, shifting venue, reluctant discovery practices, and more. Elise’s co-author is Donald H. Slavik of Slavik Law Firm, an experienced plaintiff attorney who acts as co-counsel with Elise on several cases against Tesla.
The article concerns claims regarding Tesla’s Autopilot and controversially named Full Self-Driving features. Elise details the issues both with the functionality of these systems and with their misleading names. As Elise explains in the article, Tesla has faced multiple National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigations of its safety practices regarding these features. In December 2023, an Autopilot recall affected virtually all Tesla vehicles made since 2012, over 2 million vehicles. The recall was intended to address hazards in the operation of these systems and seemed, perhaps, to put these concerns to rest. Just 5 months later, however, in April 2024, the NHTSA announced it is investigating the sufficiency of this recall in large part because Tesla reported 20 more crashes with Autopilot engaged during this time. Among other issues, portions of the recall, which took the form of an over-the-air software update, required driver opt-in and could be easily reversed, making it, in practice, optional.
As noted in the article, the grave safety concerns with Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features continue to grow. It is important for consumer advocates in California to understand what to expect with these cases. Tesla has sought to conceal its responses to NHTSA information requests from the public. Attorneys in these cases can expect similar reluctance during discovery.
Bringing products-liability Autopilot and Full Self-Driving cases against Tesla involves litigating against a company that is dedicated to defending its hazardous features and has the vast resources to delay the litigation process. Elise and Donald’s article provides crucial information regarding the landscape around these cases from the perspective of experienced attorneys who have done it before.
Learn more about the NHTSA investigation HERE.
Learn more about our firm’s work on Tesla Autopilot cases HERE.
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
Learn more about Elise’s recent work securing an $8.29 million verdict HERE.
Learn more about the developing safety concerns regarding Tesla’s Cybertruck HERE.
