Tesla paid $243 million after hacker recovered fatal Autopilot crash data
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A jury found Tesla partially liable in a fatal Autopilot crash and ordered $243 million in damages. The verdict followed testimony from a hacker who recovered crash data Tesla said did not exist. Tesla denied the appeal in February 2026.
Key Facts
- A jury ordered Tesla to pay $243 million in damages for a fatal Autopilot crash.
- The crash killed Naibel Benavides Leon and seriously injured Dillon Angulo in March 2024.
- Tesla's outside counsel Thomas Branigan stated the company did not have crash video or snapshot data.
- Hacker @greentheonly recovered the crash data and proved Tesla had access to it.
- Tesla's appeal was denied in February 2026.
The Crash
In March 2024, Neima Benavides and Dillon Angulo filed a lawsuit against Tesla after a self-driving Tesla struck Angulo and Naibel Benavides Leon's parked car. The collision killed Benavides Leon and seriously injured Angulo. By August 2025, a jury had determined Tesla was partially at fault. In February 2026, a judge denied Tesla's appeal of the case.
The Hacker's Evidence
Tesla's outside counsel Thomas Branigan stated in a letter that the data transmitted to Tesla did not include crash video or snapshot data. Hacker @greentheonly, who had worked with Tesla through its Bug Bounty program for a $15,000 reward, recovered the crash data. The hacker proved Tesla did have access to the data, which he alleges Tesla knew, according to the Washington Post.
Tesla's Response
Tesla was required to pay $243 million in damages. The company changed the name of its Autopilot and Full-Self Driving features to clarify that humans should not let their cars drive without supervision.
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Tesla paid $243 million after hacker recovered fatal Autopilot crash data
