Many new cars today have features which use cameras and other types of technology in an effort to reduce the likelihood of an accident. Some of these advances are designed to guide vehicle operators toward safe behavior, such as alerts that their car has veered out of its lane. On the other hand, there are vehicles sophisticated enough that they are described as “self-driving” cars. Unfortunately, overzealous advertising, equipment failures and misunderstandings about what a given vehicle can do can lead to tragic accidents.
A September 2024 accident on the Garden State Parkway killed three members of a Woodcliff Lake family. Now, a wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against Tesla, the manufacturer of the car in which they died. The vehicle, a 2024 Model S, was equipped with what the company referred to as an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). Various terms and phrases were used in marketing materials to promote the ADAS features, including “autopilot” and “full self-driving capability.”
According to the complaint and published reports, David Dryerman, 54; his wife, Michele, 54; and their daughter, Brooke, 17, were returning from an Asbury Park music festival when their vehicle left its lane on the Parkway in Woodbridge Township, striking a sign, a guardrail and a concrete bridge support. The lawsuit alleges that the Model S was supposed to include technology such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure avoidance and in-path stationary object braking. Plaintiffs claim that the absence or failure of these systems contributed to the Dryermans’ deaths.
Like many personal injury and wrongful death cases arising out of auto accidents in the past few years, this claim relies in part on information gathered from the Tesla’s Event Data Recorder (EDR). Specifically, the complaint cites EDR data showing that with the car traveling over 60 miles per hour, the pressure on the accelerator went from 0 to 100 percent. This indicates that while driving, David Dryerman intended to slam on the brakes, but mistakenly hit the gas pedal. Plaintiff alleges that in this type of circumstance, the ADAS is supposed to recognize the error and apply the service brake. However, this did not occur.
Litigating ADAS-related crashes can be complex as there can be serious disputes about whether the driver or vehicle was responsible for the collision. If you’ve been injured in any type of car crash, reach out to the accomplished New Jersey attorneys at Seigel Law in Ridgewood. We have obtained more than $500 million for clients in personal injury and wrongful death actions. Please call 201-444-4000 or contact us online for a free consultation.