Family of Slain Teen Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Cybertruck Driver

The grieving parents of one of the teens killed in a fiery Cybertruck crash in Piedmont last November have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Cybertruck driver’s estate, the owner of the vehicle, and will potentially pursue action against Tesla as well.

According to the lawsuit, four college students were in the Cybertruck when it crashed into a wall and burst into flames the day before Thanksgiving. Three of the teens were killed in the accident, including the plaintiff’s daughter. The family says they are looking for answers.

According to the California Highway Patrol, drug and alcohol impairment combined with unsafe speed led to the 19-year-old driver losing control of the Cybertruck

The plaintiffs have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the estate of the driver who was killed in the accident. They also named the driver’s grandfather, the owner of the Cybertruck, alongside others who are not yet named but may have contributed negligence.

The family’s attorney is requesting access to the Cybertruck and its data. According to the lawsuit, not only did the vehicle catch fire, but the doors wouldn’t open, allegedly trapping the teens inside the vehicle.

The attorney for the family said that the decedent was in the back rear seat on the passenger side of the vehicle. When she tried to get out of the Cybertruck, the door didn’t work, and she couldn’t get out. The family wants to know what went wrong with the vehicle that the doors wouldn’t open after the crash.

Who contributed negligence to this lawsuit? 

This is a very important concept under tort law. Both the intoxicated driver and the owner of the vehicle (his grandfather) contributed negligence to the accident. The driver is responsible for the crash because he was intoxicated at the time of the accident and drove a very large vehicle into a wall. In addition, his grandfather is responsible for negligently entrusting the vehicle to the 19-year-old driver who failed to operate the vehicle safely. In other words, the owner of a vehicle is always liable when they loan their car to another driver who causes an accident. So, not only is the driver liable for the accident, but so is his grandfather under a theory of negligent entrustment.

The case against Tesla 

This isn’t the first time Tesla has faced allegations that its doors wouldn’t open after the vehicle caught fire. If this allegation proves true, then Tesla could be held liable for the decedent’s death. Doors on vehicles should open. Vehicles should not catch fire after accidents. In this case, both of those things happened, creating a veritable death trap.

Talk to an Oakland, CA, Car Accident Lawyer Today 

Venardi Zurada represents the interests of Oakland drivers in car accident lawsuits. We serve the Bay Area from our office locations in Oakland and Walnut Creek. Call our Oakland personal injury lawyers today to schedule a consultation, and we can begin investigating your case right away.

Source:

nbcbayarea.com/news/local/piedmont-crash-wrongful-death-lawsuit/3852247/