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Legal action has been initiated against Tesla by the family members of a further individual who died during a Cybertruck crash in the quiet town of Piedmont, California. This marks the second lawsuit brought against the car maker within the past few days alleging a design flaw in its vehicle is to blame for the fatalities of those inside caught in the crash, according to court filings.

Allegations of Pre-Existing Flaws

Jack Nelson's family members allege that the corporation that helped Elon Musk become the world’s richest man was aware of the issue for years and should have acted more swiftly to fix the problem but did not, trapping the occupants stuck in the fire and thick smoke which ultimately caused their deaths.

"This legal action stems from severe manufacturing flaws in the Tesla Cybertruck which transformed a manageable accident into a deadly blaze," reads the complaint, submitted recently in Alameda county superior court.

Another Parallel Case

An analogous legal claim was filed against Tesla on Thursday by the family of another victim, another victim of the crash. The 19-year-old Tsukahara, along with 20-year-old Nelson, were traveling in the back of the Cybertruck on 27 November 2024, with one other passenger and the vehicle operator. The car smashed into a tree while traveling rapidly and caught on fire, according to an official traffic incident document.

Tragic Circumstances

When power to the truck’s electric doors was shuttered by the fire, the passengers were locked inside with no way out. The operator also perished. The fourth passenger was pulled from the car after a rescuer broke a window.

"These four individuals in the Cybertruck were dear companions and outstanding individuals, each on the verge of deliver significant impacts to society," Todd and Stannye Nelson declared publicly. "They all suffered of Tesla’s unsafe design. Their tragic loss and harm have deeply affected all acquainted with them."

Federal Investigation

The new legal threats to Tesla follow shortly after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration initiated a formal inquiry into the car maker concerning their electronic door mechanisms, designed to sit level with the car's exterior.

Authorities are additionally examining complaints by drivers indicating that upon leaving their vehicles, they could not open back doors to get their children out and occasionally, had to break the window to gain access.

Ongoing Hazard Issues

Tesla door handles have been at the center of multiple accident-related legal cases because the battery operating the release system can be destroyed in a fire and the manual releases that override that system are difficult to find.

"The backup mechanical release for that door was hidden underneath the liner of the map pocket positioned low on the door – concealed, unmarked, and nearly impossible to find or operate amid smoke and chaos of a post-crash fire," explained the family. "As a result, the Cybertruck’s design left Jack and the other occupants with no practical way to escape."

Previous Legal Precedents

The Cybertruck lawsuits come after multiple instances that have claimed numerous safety issues with Tesla cars. Earlier this year, a court in Florida decided that Tesla must pay $243m in damages to the relatives of a young adult who lost her life by one of its vehicles operating in Autopilot mode.