We’re proud to share that Nelson Law, LLC was recently featured in Carrier Management’s August 6, 2025 article, “Digging Into Tesla’s Liability in Crash Case: Where’s the Data?” — a deep dive into the Benavides v. Tesla trial and its implications for liability, safety, and data access in modern vehicles.
The article highlights key insights from our recent Nelson Law webinar, where Managing Partner Mike Nelson and industry expert Phil Koopman unpacked the legal and technical factors behind a Florida jury’s decision to hold Tesla 33% liable in a crash that killed a bystander and injured another. The verdict included $42.5 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages against Tesla.
During the webinar, Mike Nelson emphasized the critical importance of preserving on-board vehicle data after a crash:
“Your insurance company most likely is going to ‘total loss’ this car. You want to say … ‘I want this car put on hold until we’ve figured out what happened.’”
The discussion also explored how Tesla’s vehicle data systems work, what data may or may not be available from Tesla’s servers, and how overlooked sources — such as an internal SD card — can be essential to reconstructing events.
Why This Matters for Insurers and Litigators:
- Evidence Preservation: Early intervention can ensure critical crash data isn’t lost when vehicles are declared a total loss.
- Strategic Claims Handling: Understanding vehicle data architecture can give insurers and attorneys a decisive advantage.
- Accountability in Tech-Driven Cases: This verdict signals growing jury willingness to hold manufacturers liable even when driver distraction is a factor.
We thank Carrier Management for spotlighting Nelson Law, LLC’s thought leadership in this rapidly evolving area of law. Our firm remains committed to guiding insurers, manufacturers, and policyholders through the legal complexities of advanced vehicle technology, product liability, and crash investigation.
