In August 2016, a driver in China recorded footage of his Model S scraping another vehicle that was on a road’s shoulder. However, Tesla responded by saying that the accident was the driver’s fault as his hands weren’t on the wheel when the crash occurred and that he had his head down at times. Drivers are warned ahead of time that the automatic steering feature is designed to assist them.

Therefore, they are expected to remain aware of their surroundings and keep their hands on the wheel at all times. While that resulted in some negative press for the company and its autonomous driving features, the autopilot function may have prevented a serious accident on a highway outside of Las Vegas. In that scenario, the driver said another vehicle changed lanes and was within a foot of his vehicle after the lane change occurred.

The driver then said that his vehicle applied the brakes, which allowed the other vehicle enough clearance to make the change. Otherwise, the driver said that the brakes would been applied manually, which could have caused the Tesla to spin out of control. Furthermore, it could have resulted in the Tesla being hit from behind by other cars in the vicinity.

Those who hit by drunk drivers or others engaged in negligent driving may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. It may be possible to win compensation for medical bills as well as for lost wages and lost future earnings. Those who are interested in pursuing a personal injury case may wish to consult with an attorney. An attorney may be able to review the case and determine the best way to resolve it. Cases may be resolved through negotiated settlements outside of court if an injured victim so chooses.