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A first-time EV driver claims a Tesla Model Y was left in Insane acceleration mode.
Lawsuit alleges Tesla failed to explain regenerative braking or the car’s performance.
Crash raises questions about matching supercar acceleration with everyday drivers.
Sometimes the simplest explanation is the one we hear the least after a crash. Instead of blaming software, phantom braking, or a self-driving feature , one woman says the car was simply too much for her to handle. That’s a refreshingly candid claim, even if it comes wrapped inside a lawsuit seeking more than $10 million.
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According to a newly filed complaint uncovered by the Independent , 59-year-old Alemzewd Lawgalet suffered serious injuries after crashing a Tesla Model Y into a Virginia hair salon during a September 2024 test drive. She alleges Tesla employees sent her out alone despite knowing it was her first time driving an EV, failed to explain regenerative braking, and left the vehicle in its highest-performance “Insane” acceleration setting.
Read: Another Tesla Crash, Another Owner Says It ‘Drove On Its Own’
The lawsuit claims a salesperson assured her the Model Y “operated the same as a gas vehicle.” It apparently wasn’t until she lifted off the accelerator at highway speed and felt aggressive regenerative braking that she realized otherwise. Shaken, she exited the interstate to return the vehicle.
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According to the complaint, when the traffic light turned green, Lawgalet pressed the accelerator and the Model Y surged forward with far more force than she expected. The vehicle crossed the roadway and slammed into a salon, where it caught fire after impact.
Tesla denies responsibility, arguing Lawgalet failed to exercise reasonable care while driving. Specifically, this comes down to whether or not it was negligent for the car to be in its “Insane” driving mode and whether Tesla should’ve informed her about things like regenerative braking and the wild performance envelope in this particular Model Y. After all, we’re talking about a crossover that can rocket from 0-60 mph in just 3.3 seconds.
That’s genuine supercar territory. Put that kind of acceleration in the hands of someone who’s never experienced it before, and it’s not hard to imagine how things could go sideways in a hurry. Even so, this looks more like an outlier than the start of a troubling trend. Every day brings stories of crashes, but it’s remarkably rare to hear someone admit that a vehicle’s performance overwhelmed them.
If Lawgalet’s allegations are ultimately proven, the bigger takeaway may not be about Tesla at all. Instead, it could prompt automakers and dealers to rethink how they introduce newcomers to today’s blisteringly quick EVs. Selling a family crossover that accelerates like a sports car may eventually require the same kind of briefing once reserved for exotic machinery.
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Photos: Tesla
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