– A Tesla touchscreen lawsuit claims a 2021 Tesla Model 3 “frozen” touchscreen caused a crash and injuries in March 2022.
Plaintiff Robyn Nicole Wilson-Wolfe was driving the Tesla Model 3 on Interstate 87 in Yonkers, New York, in snowy and icy conditions.
According to the police crash report, the Tesla hydroplaned, struck a median, crossed back over the lanes and struck a second median before coming to a stop. The investigating officer determined an unsafe speed and an unsafe lane change contributed to the crash.
But the plaintiff complains that police never inspected the Model 3 for touchscreen problems and that the crash only occurred because the touchscreen “froze.” She complains that this caused the Model 3 to “misfunction.”
And as other lawsuits have alleged in the past, the plaintiff complains that the Model 3’s data and diagnostic logs are not reliable. The plaintiff further claims that the frozen touchscreen left her without speed display, alerts and windshield wiper controls.
Lawsuit against Tesla touchscreen dismissed
Tesla presented several arguments against the touchscreen lawsuit allegations, telling the judge that the Model 3’s diagnostic data showed no evidence that the touchscreen was malfunctioning. But even if that had been the case, the plaintiff would still have retained full control of the steering, braking and acceleration.
Tesla also refers to the police report regarding the weather conditions and the actions of the plaintiff driving the Model 3.
Judge Nelson S. Román dismissed the entire Tesla touchscreen lawsuit because plaintiff Robyn Wilson-Wolf failed to present expert evidence “the Tesla touchscreen malfunctioned, caused the crash, or that other factors did not contribute.”
According to the judge:
“In short, plaintiff Robyn Nicole Wilson-Wolf’s product liability claims are based on alleged defects involving complex automotive software, electronic interfaces, and vehicle control systems, and therefore require competent expert testimony to establish the defect. Plaintiff has failed to appoint an expert, offers no evidence regarding the design of the touchscreen, the feasibility of a safer alternative, or risk-utility considerations, and offers nothing sufficient to rule out alternative, non-defect-related causes of the accident.”
The Tesla touchscreen lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York: Wilson-Wolf v Tesla Vehicles (Tesla, Inc).
The plaintiff is represented by Redmond Law PLLC.
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