A judge has spoken in favor of Tesla during a class-action lawsuit. The automaker was handed a significant win in a case related to alleged touchscreen problems. It turns out that the Tesla Model 3 is not at fault. However, its driver caused an accident. 

Tesla gets massive break in touchscreen lawsuit 

A woman named Robyn Nicole Wilson-Wolfe took Tesla to court. The claims that she was driving a 2021 Tesla Model 3 on Interstate 87 in Yonkers, New York, in inclement weather conditions when she crashed.

According to the police report, the electric car hydroplaned, struck a center median, crossed back over the traffic lanes, and then struck a second median before coming to a final stop. Officers determined that the crash was caused by traveling at unsafe speeds and an unsafe lane change. 

Wolfe claims that the wreck occurred because the touchscreen froze, causing the vehicle to function improperly. Also, the police never investigated the Model 3 for touchscreen problems. Allegedly, she was left without the speed display, alerts, and windshield wiper controls. 

CarComplaints shares that the judge dismissed the lawsuit. Diagnostic data shows no evidence of a malfunction. Even if the screen did freeze, the driver would have full control over steering, braking, and acceleration. 

Tesla references the police report, which reports that weather conditions and driver actions contributed to the crash, but nothing else. 

Judge Nelson S. Roman shares, “The plaintiff offers no evidence on the touchscreen’s design, feasibility of a safer alternative, or risk-utility considerations, and provides nothing sufficient to exclude altering, non-defect-related causes of the accident.”

Also, a competent expert testimony is required to establish alleged defects involving complex automotive software, electronic interfaces, and vehicle-control systems. The plaintiff failed to designate an expert.