Fatal Crash Between Tesla and Semitrailer
On Friday, March 1, a crash involving a Tesla and a semitrailer led to the tragic death of the Tesla driver, 50-year-old Jeremy Banner of Lake Worth. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced on Monday, March 4, that they a three-person team would conduct a safety investigation. An NTSB spokesperson said the team had already visited the crash scene, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is also investigating the crash.
Although the NTSB did not give specifics of their investigation, the crash is similar to one that occurred near Gainesville in May of 2016. In that incident, the driver of a Tesla Model S died when his vehicle went under a semitrailer and its roof was sheared off. After investigating that crash, the NTSB found design limitations in the Tesla’s autopilot system contributed to the accident.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office accident report for last week’s crash doesn’t specify whether the Tesla’s autopilot feature was in use at the time of the accident. Tesla has said previously that while its autopilot and emergency braking features are meant to help motorists, drivers should still keep watch the road and be prepared to take control.
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Jeremy Banner died at the scene of the accident, and the semitrailer driver was unhurt.
If there was negligence on the part of the semitrailer driver or the auto manufacturer, Banner’s family may have grounds to move forward with a civil Wrongful Death case. It is within the rights of the family to consult an attorney to investigate all possible claims of negligence, and to protect them from the insurance companies that may try to obstruct them from compensation they may be entitled to.
The Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb, P.A. is dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals and families that have suffered injuries due to the negligence of others. Our attorneys have more than 170 years of combined experience investigating and representing those who have suffered tragic loss or severe injuries.
If you know a surviving family member of a person who was killed in an auto crash, please encourage them to call our firm immediately. The consultation is completely free, and there is no out-of-pocket cost to the family to hire us.
