It’s Time for Tesla to Admit Its Cars Are Dangerous
Corporations create a vast majority of the products we use every day. This is nothing new. From our cell phones to the vehicles we drive, corporations provide. Here’s the thing, though: they do not provide SELFLESSLY. At the end of the day, they want to make as much money as possible, and they are willing to do anything the law will allow (and maybe beyond) to ensure that happens. In fact, that’s exactly why laws surrounding them exist — to make sure standards and safety aren’t neglected in favor of financial gain. In an ideal world, especially regarding the manufacturers of dangerous machinery like cars, these corporations would want to be as safe and thorough as possible. A growing demand for “futuristic” technology has more and more vehicle manufacturers pushing for cool features now rather than safer features later.
Nothing embodies this concept more than the recent popularity (and subsequent market rush) of autonomous driving technology and other Bond-esque dashboard amenities. Tesla isn’t the only manufacturer contributing to this, but it is the first and main offender. And unfortunately, this can’t be chalked up to learning curves on new technology; they know exactly what they are doing.
Latest Tesla trends are nothing new — and they know it
Here’s the thing: Tesla knows how to make a safe vehicle. Their older Model S is famously a tank-on-wheels of a sedan, near-impossible to flip or crush. It doesn’t have many of the new features like advanced driver assist, and it is consistently one of the safest cars out there. So, where, exactly, are they going wrong? And why? Ideally, newer technology is safer than older.
A couple things are at play, here. Since reporting autonomous vehicle accidents became a requirement in June of 2021, Teslas with the infamous advanced driver-assist features have been involved in almost 300 collisions. We do not know how many people were seriously injured in those accidents on either side, but we can safely assume a good number have damages. And since this data is, admittedly, not complete (more on that later), we don’t know exactly what caused those collisions. What we do know is there are only, really, two options when the Tesla is at fault: driver error — or product failure.
You may remember the stories about certain Tesla models rolling through stop signs, or the horrific video proving its sensors don’t detect children as pedestrians. These were actual features programmed into the vehicle, so some of them were patched. But many futuristic amenities in Teslas are not only dangerous themselves, but they also encourage dangerous behaviors from the driver. Despite claiming they don’t intend for drivers to be completely inattentive when using driver-assist technology, they make it possible to play video games behind the wheel and consistently brag about their own supposed reliability.
Distracted driving is already an incredibly common cause of car accidents — and an incredibly dangerous one. When someone isn’t paying attention, they can’t react in time to prevent catastrophe. Tennessee already has a growing problem with fatal car accidents. This is not something we want to encourage on any level, for any driver.
Tesla seems to be so excited to get new vehicles out, they are neglecting basic quality control. Multiple people have reported their steering wheels straight up detaching while on the highway, and that is only one of the vehicle failures drivers are starting to experience:
- More than 40,000 Model S and Model X vehicles (2017-2021) were recalled for steering assist failures.
- More than 130,000 vehicles were recalled because their touchscreen “infotainment” systems can overheat.
- About half a million vehicles were recalled because their rearview cameras could be damaged by the trunk lid.
- More than a million vehicles were recalled because defective windows could pinch drivers and passengers.
- There have been multiple reports of their vehicles catching on fire.
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had to open up an investigation into unexpected braking.
All of this is made even worse by Tesla’s lack of return policy, despite their complete awareness of the situation.
Oh yes, they know. And yes, they have announced a few recalls and put through a few patches. They’ve also purposely failed to report accurate collision figures online. From not including things like the number of serious injuries, or deaths not on a main road, or dozens of other metrics that could make them look bad, Tesla has made it extraordinarily clear it does not care about the safety of its drivers or those around them. Tesla, it appears, cares about being caught, losing money, and — that’s about it.
Getting help after a Nashville autonomous vehicle accident
Whether they happen due to poor vehicle design, distracted driving, or a defect in the product, car accidents can be life-altering events with extraordinarily expensive consequences. Victims have a right to seek justice for the damages they endure, both physically, mentally, and financially. Knowing exactly who is responsible can be more complex than one may think, and is certainly not something anyone should have to worry about after suffering a serious injury. Personal injury attorneys work with victims and on their behalf to determine liable parties, which could be the other driver, the manufacturer of their car (take note, Tesla), the driver’s employer, and more.
Proving fault can be incredibly difficult, as those at fault rarely want to accept it and will try as hard as possible to flip the situation and avoid a financial loss, but that is why skilled personal injury attorneys build personalized, intricate cases for their clients and advocate for them. No case is impossible, no matter how muddy or difficult it may seem — if you don’t attempt it alone. You deserve the maximum amount of compensation possible. Tennessee does have a cap on certain, non-economic damages (meaning intangible damages like pain and suffering) but there are exceptions depending on the severity of your injuries.
The other side won’t tell you that. Their insurance company will not tell you that. But we will, and we will make sure every possible avenue for damage awards is explored while you focus on yourself and your recovery. The Nashville personal injury attorneys at Rocky McElhaney Law Firm put you and your family first and work tirelessly on your behalf, no matter who or what you may be up against. We maintain offices in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, and Clarksville for your convenience, and you can always call us or use our contact form. Here, we like to consider ourselves Gladiators in Suits — let us fight for you.
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