{"id":654050,"date":"2026-03-14T02:25:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T02:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/654050\/"},"modified":"2026-03-14T02:25:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T02:25:17","slug":"houston-driver-sues-tesla-after-cybertruck-on-autopilot-crashes-into-overpass","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/654050\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston driver sues Tesla after Cybertruck on Autopilot crashes into overpass"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><strong>HOUSTON<\/strong> \u2013 A Houston driver is suing Tesla after a crash involving a Cybertruck that she says suddenly veered toward the edge of an overpass while operating in Autopilot mode.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">According to a lawsuit filed in Harris County district court, Justine Saint Amour was driving her Tesla Cybertruck on Aug. 18, 2025, along the Eastex Freeway when she says the vehicle\u2019s driver-assist system malfunctioned. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The petition claims the vehicle attempted to drive straight off an overpass while Autopilot was engaged, forcing Saint Amour to try to regain control before crashing into a barrier. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The lawsuit says Saint Amour suffered serious injuries in the crash, primarily affecting her shoulder, neck and back. <\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Attorneys representing Saint Amour argue the crash highlights broader safety concerns surrounding Tesla\u2019s driver-assistance technology and how it is marketed to consumers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThis company wants drivers to believe and trust their life on a lie: that the vehicle can self-drive and that it can do so safely,\u201d attorney <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hilliard-law.com\/attorneys\/robert-c-hilliard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.hilliard-law.com\/attorneys\/robert-c-hilliard\/\">Bob Hilliard<\/a> said in a statement provided by his firm. \u201cIt can\u2019t and it doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>Claims about Tesla\u2019s driver-assist system<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The lawsuit alleges Tesla sells its \u201cFull Self-Driving\u201d package as a premium feature even though the system remains SAE Level 2 automation, meaning drivers must remain fully attentive and ready to take control of the vehicle at all times. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Level 2 systems are classified as advanced driver-assistance technology, not autonomous driving, according to the Society of Automotive Engineers\u2019 widely used automation scale.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Tesla has repeatedly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tesla.com\/fsd\/safety\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.tesla.com\/fsd\/safety\">defended<\/a> its driver-assist technology by pointing to its own safety data.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">In its quarterly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tesla.com\/fsd\/safety\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.tesla.com\/fsd\/safety\">Vehicle Safety Report<\/a>, the company says vehicles operating with Autopilot engaged recorded one crash for every 7.63 million miles driven. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">By comparison, Tesla reports one crash every 955,000 miles when its vehicles are driven without Autopilot and the U.S. national average is about one crash every 670,000 miles, according to federal data cited in the report. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Tesla says the figures show vehicles using Autopilot crash significantly less often per mile driven than typical U.S. drivers, according to the Tesla Vehicle Safety Report.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Tesla calculates those numbers based on crashes per mile driven rather than per trip and includes incidents involving airbag deployment or structural damage. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Critics have argued the comparison may not fully reflect real-world conditions because Autopilot is typically used on highways, which are statistically safer than city streets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Saint Amour\u2019s attorneys claim Tesla\u2019s branding creates the impression that vehicles can operate independently when they cannot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The suit also alleges Tesla made design decisions that reduced safety, including relying primarily on camera systems rather than additional sensor technology and lacking sufficient safeguards to ensure drivers remain alert. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">In addition, the petition claims Tesla vehicles lack adequate backup safety systems to override automated driving functions if the software fails. <\/p>\n<p><b>Federal scrutiny of Autopilot<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Tesla\u2019s driver-assist technology has faced increasing scrutiny from federal regulators.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">In December 2023, Tesla <a href=\"https:\/\/static.nhtsa.gov\/odi\/rcl\/2023\/RCLRPT-23V838-8276.PDF\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/static.nhtsa.gov\/odi\/rcl\/2023\/RCLRPT-23V838-8276.PDF\">recalled more than 2 million vehicles<\/a> in the United States to address concerns that drivers could misuse the Autopilot system if they were not adequately monitored, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The recall involved a software update designed to add stronger driver alerts and monitoring.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Federal regulators are still reviewing whether that fix fully addresses the safety concerns.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Federal regulators have also been tracking crashes involving Tesla\u2019s driver-assist systems. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/laws-regulations\/standing-general-order-crash-reporting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.nhtsa.gov\/laws-regulations\/standing-general-order-crash-reporting\">Data<\/a> collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration under its automated driving crash reporting program identified736 crashes involving Tesla vehicles operating with Autopilot or Full Self-Driving systems, including17 deaths, through April 2024, according to NHTSA. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The agency has also opened investigations into crashes involving Teslas using Autopilot that collided with emergency vehicles.<\/p>\n<p><b>What the lawsuit argues<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Saint Amour\u2019s attorneys argue the crash was not random but instead the result of decisions Tesla made about how the system was designed and marketed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cWhat happened to Justine wasn\u2019t an accident,\u201d Hilliard said. \u201cIt was the foreseeable result of choices Tesla made knowingly, repeatedly, and without regard for the people on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The lawsuit seeks damages related to Saint Amour\u2019s injuries and alleges Tesla failed to adequately warn drivers about the risks associated with its automated driving features. <\/p>\n<p><b>Tesla response<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">As of publication, Tesla had not responded to requests for comment about the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Tesla has previously said its driver-assistance systems are designed to make driving safer but require drivers to remain attentive and ready to intervene at all times.<\/p>\n<p><b>Deabate about Autopilot-type technology <\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The case adds to a growing debate about how advanced driver-assistance technology should be marketed to the public.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Transportation safety officials have warned that terms such as \u201cself-driving\u201d can create confusion among drivers about the capabilities of current systems, which still rely heavily on human oversight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Independent safety researchers have also studied advanced driver-assist technology. <\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.iihs.org\/ratings\/partial-automation-safeguards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.iihs.org\/ratings\/partial-automation-safeguards\">Insurance Institute for Highway Safety<\/a> found Tesla\u2019s system performed well in crash-avoidance capabilities but said its driver-monitoring safeguards were weaker than some competing systems, according to IIHS evaluations of partially automated driving systems.<\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2026 by KPRC Click2Houston &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HOUSTON \u2013 A Houston driver is suing Tesla after a crash involving a Cybertruck that she says suddenly&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":654051,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5130],"tags":[7285,7830,4903,20503,194803,78452,6386,4345,277355,379,728,176876,277354,8152,7829,205497,358,522,1164,3187],"class_list":["post-654050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-accident","tag-autopilot","tag-crash","tag-driving","tag-eastex-freeway","tag-full-self-driving","tag-harris-county","tag-houston","tag-insurance-institute-for-highway-safety","tag-lawsuit","tag-local-news","tag-national-highway-traffic-safety-administration","tag-nhtsa","tag-safety","tag-tesla","tag-tesla-cybertruck","tag-texas","tag-transportation","tag-travel","tag-tx"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116225161492900300","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654050","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=654050"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/654050\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/654051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=654050"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=654050"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=654050"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}