Elon Musk‘s Tesla is facing a $10.35 million lawsuit over a Virginia test drive crash. A woman alleged she was given a Model Y without proper instructions. She claimed the vehicle was set to its high-performance “Insane” mode. Tesla has denied responsibility and argued that she failed to use reasonable care.
A Virginia woman seeks $10.35 million following a high-performance Model Y crash
As per Law Commentary, Alemzewd Lawgalet sued Tesla and two employees over the September 2024 crash. The incident happened during her test drive in Arlington, Virginia. Lawgalet said she had never driven an electric vehicle before. She also claimed that her request for employee assistance was denied.
Lawgalet said employees told her the Model Y drove like a gas-powered vehicle. She alleged they did not explain regenerative braking before she left. They also allegedly failed to warn her about the acceleration setting.
Lawgalet became concerned after the Model Y slowed more sharply than expected. She believed there could be a problem with the vehicle. She also alleged the Model Y suddenly surged forward with unexpected force. The vehicle then left the roadway and crashed into an Arlington salon.
Lawgalet was taken to a hospital after suffering serious injuries. She alleged she continued experiencing injuries from the collision. Her lawsuit claimed Tesla employees created an unsafe test drive.
A major part of Lawgalet’s lawsuit involved the vehicle’s “Insane” mode. Tesla describes the setting as providing immediate access to maximum acceleration. Lawgalet did not claim that the Model Y mechanically malfunctioned. Instead, she accused Tesla employees of failing to provide adequate instruction.
Tesla has denied liability in the case, arguing that Lawgalet failed to exercise reasonable care herself. That argument could be significant under Virginia’s contributory negligence rule. The rule can prevent recovery when a plaintiff’s own negligence contributed to an accident.
Lawgalet also accuses Tesla and the two employees of willful and wanton conduct. She seeks $10 million in compensatory damages and another $350,000 in punitive damages. Virginia law caps punitive damages at $350,000. Tesla removed the lawsuit to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in July. The case remains pending in federal court.
TELL US – DO YOU THINK TESLA SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED MORE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE THE TEST DRIVE?
Reported by Saumya Srivastava on Mandatory.
