The family of a Texas woman killed in a crash involving a Tesla Model 3's automated driving assistance system has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the automaker, according to court filings made Tuesday.
Martha Avila, 76, died when a vehicle using the car's Autopilot system crashed into a suburban Houston home last week. The complaint names Tesla as defendant and argues the company should be held liable for her death.
The family's lawsuit alleges that Tesla, led by Elon Musk, failed to adequately warn drivers about defects in its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems. The complaint contends that these alleged defects contributed to the crash that resulted in Avila's death.
The incident is among numerous crashes involving Tesla vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems that have drawn regulatory scrutiny. Since 2016, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened nearly 50 special investigations into Tesla crashes believed to involve advanced driver assistance systems, according to agency records.