A lawsuit accuses Tesla that design defects of the Model 3 led to a fatal accident, in which a woman died and her husband was seriously injured.

A federal lawsuit has been filed against Tesla, accusing the company that the design flaws of the Model 3 caused uncontrolled acceleration, leading to a fatal accident in Tacoma, Washington, on January 7, 2023. Wendy Dennis died as a result of the collision with a utility pole, and her husband, Jeff, suffered severe burns. The lawsuit claims that a defect in the door handle prevented rescuers from helping the two from the burning car. It seeks punitive damages and compensation for wrongful death. It also mentions that the automatic braking system failed to function, and the doors were impossible to open due to a power failure. The lawsuit highlights the increased fire risks due to the faulty battery design. This is not the first time Tesla has faced issues related to doors in accident cases.