Tesla Crash Leads to Injury Lawsuit in New Jersey

Tesla is a world leader in EV technology, but these vehicles are certainly not immune to serious car accidents in New Jersey. Like all car manufacturers, Tesla faces potential legal action for causing injuries and deaths through manufacturing defects. A recent case in New Jersey highlights this issue, raising important questions about self-driving technology, electric batteries, and many other aspects of the most modern, innovative vehicles today. Whether you crashed in a Tesla or an older, less advanced vehicle, you have the right to consider legal action if you believe that manufacturing defects led to your crash.

Tesla Sued After Family Killed in Self-Driving Crash

In late June of 2025, Yahoo Finance and many other sources reported that Tesla was being sued for the wrongful death of a family in New Jersey. The incident occurred in 2024, when a family was driving home from a music concert in the Garden State. The victims included a couple in their 50s and their teenage daughter. None survived the crash.

The family of the victims, including the couple’s surviving adult son, is suing Tesla for contributing to this tragedy. According to the lawsuit, the family had Tesla’s “autopilot” feature engaged at the time of the crash. Moments before the fatal accident, the vehicle reportedly veered off the road for no reason before colliding with various barriers and structures.

The lawsuit specifically notes that Tesla’s representatives bragged that the autopilot function was likely better than that of the average human driver. The vehicle was a brand-new 2024 Model S with the latest features.

Not only did the vehicle inexplicably leave the road, but it also failed to engage its emergency braking system before the crash. The victims were wearing their seatbelts, but this safety feature did not prevent their deaths.

Tesla’s self-driving technology has come under considerable scrutiny over the last few years. Numerous crashes have been attributed to allegedly faulty software, although Tesla continues to insist that its technology is 100% reliable. In addition, Tesla is careful to note that a fully aware driver must continuously monitor the self-driving software. That said, some might argue that the company’s messaging on its autonomous features is somewhat mixed, even misleading.

Back in 2023, Tesla complied with a recall authorized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and took more than 2 million Tesla models off the road. This recall was specifically related to the autopilot feature, and Tesla reportedly added new safeguards during this time.

Strange Incident Involving Tesla Causes Fatal House Fire

Also in June, NBC reported a strange incident involving a Tesla and a fatal house fire. Police say that at about 5:00 PM, a vehicle rolled out of a residence in Mount Laurel before backing into another home. The Tesla was on fire at the time, and it contained one person. After impacting the other home, it caused a serious fire. According to some sources, it was actually an explosion, and first responders recovered a dead body from inside the Tesla after controlling the fire.

A family was inside the home when the Tesla crashed into it, including two parents and their children. However, their dog ran away during the commotion, and they were forced to search the neighborhood for it. The owner of the home says that the Tesla driver had some kind of medical emergency and slammed down on the accelerator in reverse before crashing.

The prevalence and intensity of battery fires have also been a major source of controversy surrounding Teslas and other EVs. While gas-powered vehicles can catch fire and explode as well, EV battery fires seem to be more intense and difficult to contain. Firefighters have reported pouring gallons of water on these batteries with no effect. And even when these fires subside, they tend to reignite without warning. Finally, EV battery fires may emit dangerous and toxic chemicals that are not seen in gas-powered vehicle fires.

Can a New Jersey Auto Accident Lawyer Help After a Tesla Crash?

Regardless of what type of vehicle you were driving at the time of your crash, you can work with a New Jersey auto accident attorney and explore your legal options. If you believe that your accident was caused by some kind of malfunction, defect, or design flaw, you may be able to take legal action against the auto manufacturer. You might also have the right to take action against a negligent driver who caused your crash. Discuss these options and related topics with Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. today.