In a recent court case in Indiana, electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla and one of its employees, Kyle Kaszuba, were found to be partially liable for a crash involving a Tesla-owned Ford truck and a motorcycle. The jury determined that Tesla and Kaszuba must pay over $42 million in damages to the victim, Christopher Dugan, who suffered a partial amputation, permanent disfigurement, and a traumatic brain injury as a result of the incident.
According to the complaint filed by Dugan, the crash occurred when Kaszuba, operating the Tesla-owned vehicle, drove across two lanes of traffic to turn into a parking lot near a gas station. This negligent action resulted in a collision with Dugan’s motorcycle, causing him to sustain severe injuries. Dugan’s legal team argued that the crash was a direct result of the defendants’ negligence, while Tesla’s attorneys countered that Kaszuba was not at fault.
During the trial, the legal teams presented conflicting accounts of the events leading up to the crash. Dugan’s attorney, Nick Rowley, claimed that Kaszuba was in a hurry to get to work and failed to exercise caution while driving. On the other hand, Tesla’s representatives argued that Dugan was following a vehicle closely, making it challenging for Kaszuba to see him on the road.
As a result of the jury’s decision, Dugan was awarded $42 million in damages, significantly less than the $191 million sought by his legal team. This outcome underscores the complexities of legal battles involving multiple parties and highlights the importance of evidence and testimonies in determining liability in such cases.
The legal battle between Tesla, its employee, and the injured motorcyclist sheds light on the challenges of proving fault and seeking compensation in personal injury cases. It serves as a reminder of the significant impact that negligence and recklessness can have on individuals and highlights the necessity of upholding safety standards on the road.