A lawsuit filed Thursday highlights that the parents of a victim from a Tesla crash assert they were trapped inside the vehicle due to a design flaw that made it nearly impossible to open the door.
The parents of Krysta Tsukahara allege that the company, which has played a significant role in making Elon Musk the richest person globally, has been aware of these issues for years yet failed to address them promptly.
Tesla has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the matter.
This new legal challenge against Tesla, lodged in Alameda County Superior Court, comes shortly after federal regulators started investigating complaints from Tesla drivers about door malfunction issues.
The timing of these investigations and lawsuits is particularly sensitive for Tesla, as the company aims to assure the public that their vehicles are safe enough for autonomous driving without a human at the wheel.
According to the lawsuit, a Tesla Cybertruck was involved in a crash with a tree in a San Francisco suburb, caused by a driver under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
Tragically, three of the four occupants of the car, including the driver, lost their lives. A rescuer had to break a window to help the fourth passenger escape.
The lawsuit, first reported by the New York Times, points out issues with Tesla doors. Specifically, the battery that powers the vehicle’s unlocking mechanism can be compromised in a fire, and locating manuals to override this system can be quite challenging.
This lawsuit is part of a broader series of claims alleging safety concerns regarding Tesla vehicles. Notably, in August, a Florida judge ruled that the family of another college student who died in a Tesla incident years ago should receive over $240 million in damages.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which launched its investigation into the stuck door issue last month, is reviewing complaints from individuals who, after exiting the vehicle, found they couldn’t reopen the door to rescue a child and had to break windows to get to them.
