The family of Michael Shihan, a 47-year-old man who tragically died in a fire inside his Tesla Cybertruck, has filed a lawsuit against the electric vehicle manufacturer. The incident occurred when Shihan's vehicle veered off the road in Texas, crashing into a pipe and igniting a fire that was so intense it reportedly destroyed his skeleton.
According to the lawsuit, Shihan was unable to escape the burning vehicle due to a malfunction of the batteries that power the Cybertruck. At the time of the accident, he was found to be intoxicated, raising questions about his ability to react in an emergency. The family's legal representation claims that Tesla prioritized the vehicle's aesthetics over essential safety features, noting that the internal latches designed to manually open the doors are "unreasonably difficult to find in an emergency situation."
Attorney Scott West, representing the Shihan family, expressed his frustration with the design of the Cybertruck. “Not only are you driving around with 3,000 pounds of batteries, this 'spaceship' design is a double-edged sword,” he stated. West challenged Tesla's CEO Elon Musk to make their vehicles safer, declaring, “Get me out of business. Make these cars so safe that I don’t have to deal with this anymore.”
The lawsuit raises significant concerns about vehicle safety and the responsibilities of manufacturers in ensuring their products protect consumers. As the case unfolds, it may prompt further scrutiny of Tesla’s safety protocols and emergency features in their electric vehicles.
