Self-driving Tesla runs through stop sign and causes crash

(DECEMBER 4, 2024) A man from Portland says a Tesla car in self-driving mode ran a stop sign and crashed into his car. This happened in Clackamas County. The man, Michael Ward, is suing the driver of the Tesla for $745,000.  

The crash happened early in the morning on November 25, 2023. The Tesla hit the side of Ward's car at an intersection. Ward says he had the right of way. The crash caused injuries to Ward’s face, teeth, and spine. His car was also badly damaged.  

This lawsuit is one of the first in Oregon about problems with Tesla’s self-driving technology. The car was using a feature called Full Self-Driving mode, but Tesla says drivers must still watch the road and keep their hands on the wheel.  

Ward is asking for:  

• $100,000 for medical bills

• $40,000 for lost income

• $5,000 for lost property

• $600,000 for pain and suffering

This case is important as self-driving cars become more common. Some people think the technology can make driving safer, but accidents like this raise questions. In fact, there have been several other lawsuits in Oregon about Tesla’s self-driving technology:  

1. In 2021, a man sued for $342,000 after a Tesla switched to self-driving mode and crashed into him.  

2. Another man sued Tesla for $250,000 after his Tesla turned on its own and hit a barrier in the rain.  

3. A man in Beaverton sued for $6,700 when his Tesla damaged a wheel in self-driving mode.  

Federal investigators are looking into Tesla crashes across the U.S., including some with deaths.  

Experts say Tesla’s Full Self-Driving mode is not fully ready. Some drivers still believe in the technology but say it needs to improve.