An employee of the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has filed a lawsuit in federal court against Tesla seeking more than $10 million in damages, as a result of injuries allegedly sustained in a crash during a dealer test drive involving a Tesla Model Y SUV. According to the plaintiff, Tesla employees had set the vehicle into its quickest accelerating drive mode without informing the complainant, causing the driver to be unprepared for the amount of performance available under foot.
The lawsuit centers around Alemzewd Lawgalet, 59, who claims that staff at the Tesla store had assured her that EVs “operated the same as a gas vehicle,” after having raised concerns of having never driven an electric car before. That claim came despite the employees having reportedly placed the car into its “Insane” drive mode, which maximizes the amount of acceleration available to the driver. In the Model Y that was featured in the test drive, that meant the vehicle was capable of going from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.3 seconds.
Tesla
According to The Independent, Lawgalet began a test drive with the Model Y, but decided to end it early after becoming scared that something was wrong with the vehicle after it began to use regenerative braking on Interstate 395. Lawgalet said that she was not informed about this feature of electric cars. Upon exiting the highway, Lawgalet accelerated away from a red light, losing control of the car as it “lurched forward at an extreme speed and horsepower compared to the force placed on the accelerator,” according to her complaint. Lawgalet would ultimately end up crashing the Model Y through the front of a nearby salon, and says she was injured as a result of the crash.
“As a direct and proximate result of the crash, Plaintiff suffered serious and permanent bodily injuries, which have caused and will continue to cause physical and mental pain and suffering,” the complaint states. “Plaintiff has incurred and will continue to incur medical, therapeutic, and related expenses. Plaintiff sustained additional damages including the inability to enjoy the normal functions of life and lost wages.”
Lawgalet is seeking a sum of $10 million or more in compensatory damages, as well as an additional $350,000 in punitive damages for what the complaint describes as Tesla’s “recklessness,” “willful and wanton conduct,” and “conscious disregard for the health and safety of others.”
Tesla
A spokesperson for Tesla did not provide comment to The Independent. Road & Track has reached out to Tesla for a comment as well; we’ll update this story should we hear back from the automaker.
Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.