DALLAS — The family of a Dallas man who died following a Tesla crash has filed a lawsuit against the automaker, claiming the vehicle’s promoted safety features did not work as advertised.
Mark Taylor, a 47-year-old husband, father of three, and prominent member of the Dallas business community, was struck by a Tesla in June 2020 while taking out his trash in front of his home on Lakeland Drive. Taylor suffered a traumatic brain injury and remained in a coma for over a year before passing away.
Taylor’s daughter, Grace, recalled the impact from inside the house. “I hear this huge smack. I see my dad laying face planted in my mom’s snowball bushes… making the most horrible snoring sound,” she said.
Taylor’s family alleges that the Tesla’s autopilot, forward-collision warning, or emergency braking systems may have failed. Attorney Leon Russell said they are seeking the vehicle’s computer data to determine whether these features were engaged at the time of the crash.
“The car ended up being shipped over to Russia and the data went with it,” Russell said. “We do have a bit of data but not all the Tesla could’ve provided if it had remained in the States. It’s been our experience that Tesla cars that have been in crashes do tend to disappear.”
Russell added that Tesla’s self-driving systems should not operate in residential areas, yet the family claims the company allowed their use in such settings.
Grace Taylor said she hopes the lawsuit will raise public awareness about the limits of vehicle technology. “The only thing that really keeps me going is that I think there will be some sort of justice… My hope is that something will be done so this won’t happen to somebody else,” she said.