A man from Washington has initiated legal action against Tesla, claiming that a malfunction in one of its vehicles led to his wife’s tragic death in a fiery accident.
Jeff Dennis, aged 53, has lodged a federal lawsuit against the electric car manufacturer following the death of his wife, Wendy. The lawsuit argues that design defects in the Tesla Model 3 were to blame for the fatal incident, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The incident occurred on January 7, 2023, while the couple was out running errands. Suddenly, the car accelerated uncontrollably, resulting in a crash. The collision with a utility pole caused the vehicle to erupt in flames.
As a result of the crash, Wendy suffered fatal injuries, while Jeff sustained significant leg burns and other injuries, according to the legal filing submitted on Friday.
The lawsuit contends that not only did the Tesla’s defects trigger the devastating crash, but additional flaws led to an explosive fire, hindering rescuers’ efforts to extricate Jeff and Wendy, thus exacerbating their injuries.
The documents claim that the 2018 Tesla Model 3 accelerated “without warning or driver input,” leading to the catastrophic event.
‘Their Tesla Model 3 suddenly and rapidly accelerated out of control, continuing to accelerate faster and faster for at least five seconds,’ according to the complaint.
Dennis was seen on security footage swerving to avoid other cars before they eventually crashed into a utility pole, the documents stated.
Jeff Dennis, 53, has filed a federal lawsuit against Tesla after his wife, Wendy, was killed due to defective design flaws in the Tesla Model 3
The Tesla, a 2018 Model 3, reportedly accelerated out of control ‘without warning or command from the driver,’ before crashing and catching fire
Dennis suffered ‘extreme’ burning of the legs, and numerous other injuries
Upon impact the vehicle erupted in flames, which the suit alleged to have been caused by defective batteries and battery pack design.
Rescuers attempted to open the vehicle but were unable to open the doors due to the cars ‘defective door handle design,’ which become inoperable after a crash, the lawsuit alleged.
‘Several good Samaritans even attempted to use a baseball bat to break the car windows to help the Dennis’ out of the burning vehicle,’ according to the documents.
‘However, the increasingly intense fire forced them to distance themselves. First responders arrived on the scene several minutes later and extracted Jeff and Wendy from the vehicle.’
Wendy, 52, was pulled from the vehicle but had already died from multiple blunt force injuries, the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office said in a release. Her husband Jeff had suffered ‘extreme’ burning of the legs, and numerous other injuries.
Tesla is accused of negligence and gross negligence, as Dennis claimed that Tesla prevented its Automatic Emergency Braking system from activating in cases such as these.
According to the complaint, Tesla had received ‘repeated’ notice that its vehicles were ‘prone to Sudden Uncommanded Acceleration,’ as well as ‘explosive’ fires – both spontaneous and due to collisions.
Daily Mail reached out to Tesla for comment.
Wendy, 52, was pulled from the vehicle but had already died from multiple blunt force injuries
‘Such fires were difficult and time-consuming to extinguish,’ the suit stated.
‘Tesla also knew that its decision to prevent its AEB system from activating would allow otherwise preventable collisions to kill and maim people.’
The complaint further claimed that Tesla knew that its reliance on an electronic door system ‘created a serious risk of occupant entrapment after crashes.’
The suit noted prior incidents where passengers in Tesla’s had been unable to escape the vehicles after the cars power would fail in collisions, leading to deaths or injuries from fires.
‘Despite these warnings, Defendant Tesla continued to market and sell vehicles—including the subject vehicle—that predictably trapped survivors in foreseeable emergencies,’ the complaint continued.
Dennis is seeking financial claims as well as wrongful death damages for both Dennis and his late wife’s estate, and has requested a jury trial.
