Tesla Faces Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Cybertruck Fire

On August 8, 2025, the family of Tesla Cybertruck driver Michael Sheehan filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Harris County District Court, Texas, against Tesla, Inc. and a local bar (Shannon Sheehan et al, v. Tesla, Inc. and 3180 Bar LLC). 

Michael Adams reports in AboutLawsuits that alleged defective design features in the Tesla Cybertruck are said to have caused Sheehan’s death following a battery fire.

The dispute stems from an accident in Cypress, Texas. Sheehan had purchased his Cybertruck only months earlier. After leaving the defendant’s bar, he drove off the road and struck a culvert, sparking a fire.

The complaint contends that the vehicle’s lithium-ion battery caused ‘thermal runaway’ and disabled the electric-powered doors after a collision, trapping Sheehan inside. The case seeks damages in excess of $1 million.

Although the impact was survivable, plaintiffs allege that the lithium-ion battery ignited and reached temperatures near 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. With the Cybertruck’s electronic door system disabled, Sheehan was unable to escape.

The vehicle was equipped with manual release handles, but the suit argues that they were neither intuitive nor adequately explained to consumers.

The complaint asserts claims of strict liability and negligence against Tesla, citing unstable battery chemistry, inadequate insulation, insufficient crashworthiness, and emergency handles that were difficult to access.

It also alleges that Tesla failed to provide adequate warnings or training regarding escape procedures during emergencies.

Additionally, the bar is accused under Texas Dram Shop laws of over-serving Sheehan despite his visible intoxication and failing to prevent him from driving.

The case illustrates the litigation risks associated with the design and operation of electric vehicles, and how liability can be allocated among multiple defendants in the event of an accident. Continuing scrutiny of safety mechanisms in electric automotive technologies is clearly warranted.