Woman Sues Tesla for Over $10 Million After Model Y Crashes into Barbershop During Test Drive

On September 21, 2024, a 59-year-old woman, Alemzewod Laogalete, suffered severe injuries in Arlington, Virginia, after the Tesla Model Y she was test-driving for the first time veered off the road, crashed into a hair salon, and caught fire. She has since filed a lawsuit seeking over $10 million in damages from Tesla. The complaint alleges that Tesla sales staff, aware that she had never driven an electric vehicle before, failed to provide adequate instruction or explain key EV features such as regenerative braking, and placed the vehicle in its high-performance “Insane” mode. The plaintiff claims the sales representative told her the Model Y “operates just like a gasoline-powered car.” According to her account, when she lifted her foot off the accelerator on the highway, she was caught off guard by the strong deceleration caused by regenerative braking. Later, when the traffic light turned green at an intersection, she pressed the accelerator, causing the vehicle to accelerate abruptly and uncontrollably, crashing into a roadside store. It is reported that in “Insane” mode, the Model Y can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in approximately 3.3 seconds. Tesla denies liability, arguing that the driver failed to exercise reasonable care. The central issues in dispute are whether using “Insane” mode during a test drive was appropriate and whether Tesla should have disclosed the vehicle’s performance capabilities and regenerative braking characteristics beforehand. The case has not yet reached a final ruling.