Recently, two people were killed in a single-vehicle accident in Richland County. According to CBS News 19, the incident took place on Salem Church Road near Lake Murray and Irmo and involved a 2021 Tesla. Reportedly, prior to the deadly crash, which occurred around 2:10 am, the Tesla was heading west on Salem Church Road. According to the article, the Tesla left the road, hit a tree, and caught on fire. The driver and a passenger were killed in the crash.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol was still investigating the incident at the time of this article and hadn’t determined why the Tesla left the road yet.
Is It Safe to Use Tesla’s Autopilot Feature?
According to a CNBC article, Tesla vehicles account for 70 percent of car accidents involving vehicles using a driver-assist feature. Tesla was one of 11 automakers that had vehicles included in the study. While this study is far from conclusive, especially due to a small sample size of around 400 motor vehicle accidents, it is worrying that so many Tesla vehicles were involved in these types of crashes.
Tesla’s autopilot feature, which allows a Tesla vehicle to accelerate, brake, and steer itself within its lane of travel while on most roadways, has been touted as the future of motor vehicle travel. However, if more of the types of tragic accidents that happened Richland County recently keep happening, the auto industry may have to rethink that assessment.
What to Do If You’re in a Tesla Autopilot Accident in South Carolina
Like any other car accident, if you’re in a wreck involving a Tesla vehicle that was using the autopilot feature, you may be able to hold those at fault accountable via a personal injury lawsuit.
If you were in the Tesla and the wreck was the result of the autopilot feature malfunctioning, you may have grounds for a lawsuit against Tesla. If you were in another vehicle, or you were a pedestrian, and you were the victim of a crash that was caused by a Tesla using autopilot, you may be able to hold the driver, their insurance provider, and/or Tesla accountable for the accident and your injuries.
In addition, if you lost a loved one in a Tesla autopilot accident, you may have options for pursuing justice for them through a lawsuit as well.
To understand whether you have a valid case, you should speak with a Tesla autopilot accident lawyer about your situation.
An attorney will be able to examine the evidence in your case, figure out whether you have a valid legal claim, and help you bring those responsible for your accident, injuries, or loved one’s death to justice. This includes holding those at fault responsible and securing the compensation you and your family need for current and future medical costs, loss of income, funeral expenses, pain and suffering, and more.
To learn more about Tesla autopilot accidents, call Pierce, Sloan, Kennedy & Early LLC at (843) 968-0886 or reach out to us online today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our experienced car accident attorneys in Charleston.