Tesla is facing a lawsuit from a Virginia woman who claims the automaker failed to properly explain how its vehicles operated before sending her out on a solo test drive that ended in a serious crash.
According to court filings first reported by The Independent, 59-year-old Alemzewd Lawgalet is seeking more than US$10 million in compensatory damages, along with an additional US$350,000 in punitive damages, following a September 2024 collision involving a Model Y.
The lawsuit, now before a federal court after being moved from Virginia state court, alleges Tesla employees did not adequately prepare her for driving an EV and left the SUV configured with its most aggressive acceleration setting.
Lawgalet says she specifically told Tesla staff she had never driven an EV and asked what she needed to know before leaving. According to the complaint, she was told the Model Y “operated the same as a gas vehicle” and was not informed about regenerative braking or the vehicle’s available acceleration settings.
The lawsuit further alleges the Model Y had been placed in “Insane” mode, a mode reserved for the Performance variant, which the lawsuit claims allowed the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 3.3 seconds.
Court documents state that while driving on Interstate 395, Lawgalet became alarmed when the vehicle slowed rapidly after she lifted off the accelerator. Believing something was wrong, she exited the highway with the intention of returning to the store. After stopping at a traffic light near the Pentagon, she alleges the vehicle accelerated far more aggressively than expected when she pressed the accelerator, sending the Model Y across the roadway and into a nearby hair salon.
The complaint says Lawgalet suffered permanent injuries that continue to require medical treatment, while also claiming lost wages and a diminished quality of life. The crash also forced the evacuation of the building after the vehicle caught fire following the impact.
Tesla has denied the allegations and disputes responsibility for the collision. In its court filings, the automaker argues Lawgalet failed to exercise reasonable care while operating the vehicle and also failed to mitigate her alleged damages.
One aspect that could become significant as the case moves forward is Tesla’s standard test drive agreement. Before taking a vehicle out, customers are required to accept a waiver acknowledging their responsibilities while operating the vehicle and agreeing to the terms of the test drive. Depending on the exact language of the agreement signed by Lawgalet and the circumstances surrounding the drive, that document could become a key piece of evidence in the case.
The case is still in its early stages, and the court has not ruled on the merits of either side’s claims.
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