Car Drives into Home in Fatal Woodridge Crash

A Tesla drove into a home in Woodridge on March 2, 2025, killing the two occupants of the vehicle. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but it raises concerns over the rise in so-called “autonomous” vehicles, as well as age-old causes of vehicle collisions, such as speeding. For the families involved in these tragedies, it’s important to determine the cause and who might be liable.

About the fatal Tesla crash in Woodridge

The crash took place just before 9 p.m. Sunday night. The Tesla collided with a home on the 2400 block of Kildeer Street. Surveillance video captured the vehicle traveling at a high speed prior to impact. The vehicle reportedly caught fire or exploded in the home, and the two people in the car were both declared dead at the scene. A woman was inside the house at the time, and she was transported to the hospital as a precaution, although she did not appear to have suffered serious injuries. The crash caused severe structural damage to the home, which also caught fire. It took firefighters hours to combat the blaze.

Witnesses reported hearing several loud bangs as the vehicle struck other objects, including a tree, prior to colliding with the home. After the crash, locals stated that they have long worried that cars speeding on the nearby street posed risks to pedestrians and others in the area. Officials are still working to uncover the cause of the crash.

Autonomous vehicles create new concerns over crash risks

One report from the Washington Post found that 736 crashes between 2019 and 2023 involved Tesla’s Autopilot. Those crashes included 17 fatalities. These events sparked criticism of Tesla and the use of the term “Autopilot.” The language seems to suggest self-driving capabilities when the technology is actually a “Level 2 driving automation system designed to support and assist the driver in performing the driving task,” rather than something capable of operating in a driverless capacity. There are five categories of autonomous driving capabilities, with level five being true driverless technology. However, some drivers have treated their Teslas with Autopilot as if it is capable of operating their vehicles fully autonomously.

With all of that said, humans are at fault for far more crashes than driver assistance systems. Drunk drivers are the cause of around 11,000 deaths in the US each year. About 29% of deadly crashes involve speeding. Distracted driving led to about 8% of deadly wrecks in 2022, and 693 people died that same year from drowsy driving. On top of that, just 45% of drivers and 51% of front-seat passengers killed in car crashes wore their seat belts, suggesting that many people could have survived had they buckled up.

How often do drivers strike buildings?

Drivers strike buildings more often than you may think. According to some estimates, there are about 100 vehicle-into-building collisions every day in the US. The Storefront Safety Council reports that vehicles striking buildings kill 2,600 people a year and injure 16,000.

Determining the cause is critical when it comes to liability. If the cause is a driver who was speeding or drunk, the victims of the collision may pursue claims against that person. However, if a vehicle malfunctions, the case might become a defective auto parts claim.

Legal options for victims and families

Depending on the cause or causes of the crash, the victims could be able to pursue a personal injury claim to recover for their medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress and other losses. In the case of crashes like this one, which resulted in two tragic deaths, the families may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim, which, if successful, would allow them to recover damages related to the loss of their loved one.

In the event that the vehicle malfunctions, the liable party could be Tesla or another vehicle manufacturer. Defective vehicles have resulted in large awards for victims and sparked massive recalls.

How hiring an attorney can help

Families impacted by severe car crashes should speak to an attorney as soon as possible. A lawyer can help investigate the collision to determine who might be at fault. Personal injury lawyers have resources and connections, such as accident reconstruction experts, that can help injured individuals improve their likelihood of recovering damages.

Dealing with insurance companies without legal representation is a risky move. Insurers often attempt to coerce victims to accept settlement amounts that are far lower than they could recover with the help of a legal representative. An attorney can help to negotiate a better settlement or take the case to court if the insurance company or at-fault party refuses to make a reasonable offer.

At Gainsberg Law, our experienced attorneys provide aggressive representation for injury victims. If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a collision in the Chicago area, call or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.