Tesla Faces Another Legal Action Over Deadly California Cybertruck Accident

Tesla is being sued by the parents of another victim killed in a Cybertruck crash in the quiet town of Piedmont, California. This marks the second lawsuit filed against the car maker within the past few days claiming a manufacturing defect in its vehicle is responsible for the deaths of those inside involved in the accident, according to court filings.

Claims Regarding Pre-Existing Flaws

Jack Nelson's family members allege that the corporation that helped Elon Musk achieve billionaire status was aware of the issue for a long time and could have moved faster to resolve the defect but failed to do so, trapping the occupants trapped amid flames and thick smoke that eventually killed them.

"This legal action stems from severe manufacturing flaws in the Tesla Cybertruck that turned a survivable crash into a fatal fire," reads the complaint, which was filed on Thursday in Alameda county superior court.

Second Similar Lawsuit

An analogous legal claim was filed against Tesla on Thursday by the family of Krysta Tsukahara, who also perished in the accident. The 19-year-old Tsukahara, and Nelson, 20, were traveling in the back of the Cybertruck late last year, with one other passenger and the vehicle operator. The car smashed into a tree at high speed and caught on fire, as detailed in a California highway patrol report.

Fatal Conditions

When power to the truck’s electric doors was disrupted by the flames, the occupants became trapped within with no way out. The operator also perished. The remaining occupant was extracted from the vehicle following the shattering of a window by emergency personnel.

"The four young people inside the electric truck were close friends and remarkable people, all poised to making meaningful contributions to the world," the Nelson parents declared publicly. "They all suffered of Tesla’s unsafe design. Their tragic loss and harm have devastated everyone acquainted with them."

Federal Investigation

The recent legal challenges to Tesla follow shortly after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the car maker about its electric door handles, designed to sit level with the body of the vehicle.

The agency is also looking into reports from vehicle owners that said after exiting their cars, they could not open back doors to get their children out and occasionally, had to break the window to gain access.

Ongoing Hazard Issues

Tesla door handles have been at the center of several other crash lawsuits because the battery powering the unlocking mechanism may fail during fires while the emergency overrides that bypass the electronic system are challenging to locate.

"The emergency manual override for the vehicle's doors was concealed beneath the interior storage compartment positioned low on the door – concealed, unmarked, and impractical to locate or use in the smoke and confusion following a fiery crash," explained the family. "As a result, the Cybertruck’s design trapped the young individuals with no practical way to escape."

Prior Court Rulings

These electric truck legal cases come after multiple instances that have claimed various safety problems with Tesla cars. Earlier this year, a court in Florida decided that the company must compensate millions in restitution to the family of a young adult who lost her life in an accident involving their car operating in Autopilot mode.

Jeffery Daniels
Jeffery Daniels

A seasoned web developer with over 10 years of experience, passionate about teaching coding and sharing practical insights.

Popular Post