Tesla Sued After Driver Dies Unable to Escape Burning Car

Another lawsuit has been filed in the United States against Tesla over the design of its door handles. The family of 20-year-old Samuel Tremblay filed a complaint in federal court in Massachusetts on February 4. They allege that the young man survived the initial crash but died because he was unable to open the door of his Tesla Model Y after the vehicle caught fire.

The crash occurred on October 29, 2025, on Route 138 in the town of Easton. The car left the roadway and came to a stop in a wooded area about 20 feet from the road. According to court filings, no other vehicles were involved.

After the impact, the driver was still alive and immediately called 911. During the call, he reported that the car was on fire and that he could not get out. The court cited a transcript of the call in which the young man says:

“I can’t get out, please help. It’s on fire. Please help. I’m going to die.”

Later, according to police, Samuel’s body was found in the back seat. This may indicate that he attempted to open different doors before losing consciousness due to smoke inhalation and burns.

The lawsuit states that Tesla’s electronic door system trapped the driver inside the vehicle. The cause of death was listed as burns and smoke inhalation. Tesla did not respond to media requests for comment.

This incident is the latest in a series of similar lawsuits. According to a Bloomberg investigation, at least 15 people have died in Tesla crashes in which occupants were unable to escape burning vehicles due to issues with hidden door handles.

In September 2025, a Tesla executive said the company was working on a new door-handle design. In December, the automaker updated information on its website, noting that after a severe crash, doors should automatically unlock and hazard lights should activate for better visibility. In Samuel Tremblay’s case, these changes were implemented only after the tragedy.

Court materials also note that all Tesla vehicles have two batteries: a main high-voltage battery that powers the car and a low-voltage battery that controls the doors, windows, and touchscreen. If the low-voltage battery fails, the doors may not open automatically.

Although Tesla vehicles are equipped with mechanical emergency door releases on the inside, many drivers and passengers are unaware of their existence or are unable to quickly locate and use them in an emergency.