A Virginia woman has filed a lawsuit against a major electric vehicle manufacturer, alleging that the company’s defective car design turned a survivable crash into a fiery trap. On December 1, 2025, Susmita Maddi filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Tesla, Inc., seeking justice for severe injuries she sustained due to what she claims are dangerous flaws in her Tesla Model Y.
The incident at the heart of this case occurred on December 9, 2023. According to the complaint, Susmita was riding as a passenger in her husband’s newly purchased Tesla Model Y when he suffered a medical emergency and lost control of the vehicle. The car collided with a utility pole in Leesburg, Virginia, igniting a fire that trapped Susmita inside. The lawsuit claims that rescuers were unable to open the car’s doors due to their electronic nature failing post-crash and that Tesla’s design left no practical means for escape or rescue. “Rescuers spent many minutes trying to extricate Susmita from the Vehicle while she was burning alive inside,” reads one harrowing section of the complaint.
Susmita’s legal team argues that Tesla was aware of similar incidents where occupants became entrapped due to door operation failures and accuses them of negligence and breach of implied warranty of merchantability. They claim Tesla failed to provide adequate warnings about these dangers and did not design their vehicles to be reasonably safe in foreseeable accidents. Furthermore, they allege that Tesla did not recall or retrofit vehicles even after knowing about these defects.
The plaintiff is seeking $50 million in damages for physical pain, mental anguish, disfigurement, inconvenience, medical bills, and lost earnings resulting from her injuries. She is also demanding pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at the maximum rate allowed by law. The case highlights significant concerns regarding safety features in modern vehicles and raises questions about corporate responsibility in ensuring consumer safety.
Representing Susmita Maddi are attorneys Michael G. Phelan, Jonathan M. Petty, Christopher P. Yakubisin from Phelan Petty PLC based in Richmond, Virginia; alongside James L. Mitchell and Andrew S. Bullard from Payne Mitchell Ramsey Law Group located in Dallas, Texas. The case has been assigned Case ID 1:25-cv-2220.
Source: 125cv02220_Maddi_v_Tesla_Inc_Complaint_Eastern_District_Virginia.pdf
