California Tesla Accident Lawyer

Tesla is known for electric vehicles with self-driving and autopilot technology, such as its Full Self-Driving system. Despite Tesla’s consistent claims that its technology is safer than human drivers, crash data tells a different story. Tesla vehicles have been involved in thousands of serious and deadly accidents since their release.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a Tesla accident anywhere in California, Jacoby & Meyers can provide you with exceptional legal services to achieve the case results you deserve. Our award-winning California personal injury attorneys have over 50 years of experience and have been handling Tesla claims from the beginning.

For a free consultation about a recent Tesla accident in California, contact us anytime. We offer flexible appointments with 24/7 availability. If you are injured, we won’t hesitate to meet with you at your home or hospital. Jacoby & Meyers: because you deserve justice. 

Why Choose Jacoby & Meyers for Your Tesla Accident Case?

• We take pride in handling every case with the same level of care – big or small. Our lawyers have earned the trust of tens of thousands of clients in San Francisco, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Ontario, Riverside, and beyond, with decades of high-quality service.

• Our case results speak for themselves. Jacoby & Meyers has recovered over $2 billion in settlements for clients, including a groundbreaking $19 million rideshare accident case.

• After a Tesla accident, we will make sure you get the medical care you need and help you handle your property damage, free of charge.

• We’re right where you need us; we have 14 office locations throughout California for your convenience when you need a local Tesla accident lawyer.

• There are no fees unless we win. If Tesla or its insurer denies liability or coverage, we will not collect a fee. We don’t take any money unless we settle your case.

How a Tesla Accident Attorney in California Can Help You

Tesla car accidents can be complex due to the autopilot technology involved and the power of the adversary (Tesla and its insurance provider). As an injured crash victim, it can be difficult to secure the justice and financial compensation you deserve without assistance from a Tesla accident lawyer in California.

Hiring a lawyer can be integral to your accident case’s success and the financial compensation you recover for your injuries and losses. The right attorney can carefully investigate your Tesla crash, determine the cause, obtain important evidence such as the vehicle’s event data recorder, and prove your case against one or more parties.

Your attorney can also take over communications with an insurance company on your behalf while you focus on healing. An aggressive litigator will maximize your financial recovery with a smart legal strategy, including bringing your case to trial, if necessary. You can rely on your California lawyer to seek justice for a Tesla crash and an injury that may impact the rest of your life.

Tesla Accident Facts and Statistics

Tesla crash risks are widely understated by the company. In a recent letter from the U.S. Senate to an Administrator at the NHTSA, it was alleged that Tesla “used misleading and incomplete safety statistics to promote its Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology.” This letter stated that while Tesla has repeatedly said that FSD is far safer than human driving, the data justifying these claims is “weak and misleading.”

All Tesla accidents combined have resulted in a total of 772 confirmed deaths, according to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Sixty-five (65) of these deaths occurred while the Tesla was in Autopilot mode, including two deaths involving the use of FSD.

What Causes Tesla Accidents Most Often in California?

California’s “at-fault” car insurance law means that Tesla accident victims must determine what caused their crash before they can file an insurance claim. As an injured victim, your claim will be filed with the insurance provider of the person or party at fault for your accident. Step one is understanding the cause of the accident.

Automated Driving Assistance Problems

Tesla vehicles are known for their self-driving technology. While Tesla vehicles are not fully autonomous, they have a supervised Full Self-Driving feature that, when engaged, will handle tasks such as braking, steering, lane-keeping and lane-changing. 

Many accidents associated with Tesla vehicles have been connected to malfunctions with its FSD and Autopilot systems. Software and hardware glitches, such as issues with the camera-only system or false collision warnings, can contribute to car accidents.

Driver Errors

Tesla’s reliance on autonomous technology is often the cause of Tesla auto accidents – directly conflicting with the automaker’s claim that its vehicles are “engineered to be the safest cars in the world.” Insurance statistics show that Tesla drivers actually have a higher rate of collisions compared to drivers of other vehicle brands.

Tesla drivers may become over-reliant on the self-driving technology and operate their vehicles while distracted or not paying attention. This can lead to reaction delays in dangerous conditions or when the vehicle is alerting the driver to take control. Neglecting to maintain control of the Tesla can point to driver liability for a related collision.

Negligence By Tesla, Inc.

Tesla as a corporation has a legal obligation to ensure the reasonable safety of its vehicles before releasing them to consumers. For instance, Tesla must take measures to properly design, build and test its Autopilot features to prevent dangerous bugs. Failures in this regard can lead to defective vehicles and related car accidents in California.

Challenges You May Face During a Tesla Accident Claim in California

Unlike fully automated and truly “self-driving” cars, Tesla vehicles operate at Level 2 automation. This means they must be supervised by a human operator who is legally responsible for the operation of the vehicle, even when autonomous driving technology is engaged. Drivers must manually take over when alerted to do so by the vehicle.

Due to the level of vehicle automation, Tesla can avoid liability for many accidents that occur by placing the blame on the driver or human supervisor. However, if an investigation finds that Tesla failed to adequately ensure the safety of its autopilot technology design, operation or testing, the company can still be held liable for a related injury or death.

How Do Tesla Accident Cases Work in California?

When an accident in California involves a Tesla, a full investigation will be needed to pinpoint the cause of the crash and name the liable party/ies. Evidence will then be gathered to prove a claim against the defendant(s). Liability may be divided among multiple parties.

Proving liability for a Tesla car accident in California can be difficult. Your case may involve multiple defendants, including an outside driver, Tesla as a company, a Tesla dealership, a part or software manufacturer, an engineer, a rideshare company, or the government. The California Tesla accident lawyers of Jacoby & Meyers can step in to investigate your crash and determine who is at fault

About the Comparative Negligence Defense

Under California’s pure comparative negligence law, if you are allocated a percentage of fault for a Tesla car accident, you can still recover partial financial compensation from the defendant. However, any settlement or judgment awarded to you will be reduced by an amount equivalent to your percentage of fault.

Evidence Available to Support a Tesla Accident Claim

It is typical for Tesla to reject responsibility for an accident involving one of its vehicles unless strong evidence of its liability is submitted by the claimant. The evidence or proof that you use to support your car accident claim is critical. 

While evidence varies from case to case, examples include:

• The Tesla’s event data recorder (black box)
• Software logs and driver records
• The vehicle’s service and maintenance records
• Recall notices or known defects
• Accounts from drivers and eyewitnesses
• Proof of distracted driving, such as video materials in the Tesla
• Crash scene photographs
• Footage from video cameras 
• The victim’s medical records and proof of injuries
• Testimony from various experts

If your Tesla accident claim is based on the legal doctrine of negligence, you or your attorney from Jacoby & Meyers will have the goal of proving that the defendant owed you a duty of care, breached this duty of care and caused your accident. 

A product liability claim against Tesla, on the other hand, will not require proof of negligence – only that the vehicle contained a defect and caused your injury. Strict product liability laws protect consumers from having to prove that major manufacturers are negligent to recover compensation for injuries caused by defective products.

What Financial Compensation Can I Recover for a Tesla Accident?

There is no such thing as an “average” Tesla accident case settlement; every case is unique, which makes it important to understand the damages or financial compensation that may be available to you specifically. 

California car accident claims can provide compensation for a victim’s economic (tangible) and non-economic (intangible) damages. Punitive damages may also be available to punish the defendant, in rare cases.

Common types of compensation include:

• Present and future medical expenses
• Lost income, including future earnings due to disability
• Motor vehicle repairs or replacement
• Permanent scarring, disability or disfigurement
• Pain, suffering and emotional injuries
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Funeral costs and wrongful death damages (if applicable)
• Loss of consortium

Since you cannot trust Tesla, its legal team or an insurance company to offer you a full payout upfront, it’s important to consult with an experienced California Tesla accident attorney at Jacoby & Meyers before accepting a settlement. Don’t agree to a too-low settlement; contact us and we’ll provide you with an accurate analysis of your Tesla accident case value.

Steps to Take After a Crash Involving a Tesla in California

After getting into an accident with a Tesla in California, it’s normal to feel confused and overwhelmed. You may be contacted by multiple parties and insurance companies shortly after your crash. It’s important to know what steps to take during this critical time to protect your legal rights and physical safety.

Here’s what to do:

1. Put your safety first. Only exit your vehicle when it’s safe to do so. Check yourself and those in the Tesla for injuries. Receive professional medical care without delay. Keep copies of your medical bills and records as evidence.

2. Involve the police. Call 911 from the scene to report any injuries to the police and request paramedic assistance. State law requires you to report any crash involving injury, death or more than $1,000 worth of property damage in California.

3. Document the scene. Talk to the other driver to exchange information. Take pictures of the crash scene and search for nearby video cameras. Write down eyewitness names and phone numbers for statements later.

4. Notify insurance. Call your own car insurance provider first to notify them of the accident. Once you understand what caused the crash, file a claim with the insurance policy of the at-fault party. This may involve contacting Tesla directly.

5. Contact Jacoby & Meyers for a free consultation with a lawyer in California before settling. One of the most important things you can do in the aftermath of a Tesla crash is to contact us. We can take over the claims process for you to ensure you achieve justice.

The success of your Tesla accident claim in California may depend on what you do in the minutes, hours and days after the crash. Rather than handling it alone, contact us for assistance with the recovery and insurance processes from the beginning.

How Long Do I Have to File a Tesla Accident Case in California?

A law called the statute of limitations in California (§335.1 of the Code of Civil Procedure) gives most personal injury claimants a limit of two years from the time that a car accident occurs to file a related lawsuit. If you wait until more than two years have passed from your Tesla crash, you risk losing the ability to pursue compensation at all.

Note that this is just the deadline to file a lawsuit; your car insurance claim following a Tesla accident should be filed much sooner (typically, within 72 hours). In addition, special circumstances can extend or shorten the statute of limitations. A claim against a government agency in California, for example, must be initiated within just six months.

Contact Our California Tesla Accident Attorneys Today

Tesla accidents in California have unique legal challenges. To build a strong case, you need a skilled car accident lawyer. Jacoby & Meyers has a thorough understanding of these accidents, including how to collect key evidence and identify liability. We have years of experience going up against corporations like Tesla and leveraging successful settlements for our clients.

To get legal advice about a recent Tesla accident, contact us anytime to schedule a free, no-obligation case review. You can also call us at (800) 500-000 to reach our 24/7 hotline. Our California Tesla accident attorneys will secure the justice you deserve.