Tesla's Legal Setback: The Verdict That Could Change The Game For Autopilot

In a landmark decision, a Florida jury has held Tesla accountable, ordering the company to pay $243 million for a deadly crash tied to its Autopilot system. The ruling could usher in a wave of new legal challenges against Elon Musk's ambitious auto enterprise.

Friday's verdict is notable as it is the first where Tesla was found liable in a fatal Autopilot-related accident. The jury awarded $129 million to the victims' families in compensatory damages and another $200 million in punitive damages, partially attributing fault to Tesla's failure to adequately restrict the Autopilot system's use to controlled-access highways.

The decision could have far-reaching implications for Tesla's future, as it seeks to expand its autonomous vehicle technology. Already grappling with declining sales, the company faces mounting legal and financial hurdles, even as it plans to venture into a robotics-driven future.

(With inputs from agencies.)