At Tesla's Fremont, California plant in November 2019, a stack of three steel skids on an automated conveyor system knocked worker Paul Janikowski down and dragged him more than 15 feet, seriously injuring both his legs.
- Date of incident
- 2019-11-01
- Location
- Fremont, California, USA
- Sources
- 7
How the event developed
- 2025-04-14Lawsuit
At Tesla's Fremont, California plant in November 2019, a stack of three steel skids on an automated conveyor system knocked worker Paul Janikowski down and dragged him more than 15 feet, seriously injuring both his legs.
expressnews.com - 2025-09-22Lawsuit
A Tesla Fremont factory robotics technician, Peter Hinterdobler, was struck by a robot arm that suddenly released during disassembly, throwing him to the floor, knocking him unconscious, and causing significant injuries.
assemblymag.com - 2025-09-24Lawsuit
Worker claims Tesla robot knocked him unconscious, files $51 million lawsuit
carscoops.com - 2025-09-24Lawsuit
Tesla sued for $51 million after a factory robot knocked a worker unconscious.
autoblog.com - 2025-09-24Lawsuit
Robotics technician Peter Hinterdobler, 50, was knocked unconscious and seriously injured at Tesla's Fremont, California plant when a robotic arm on the Model 3 production line suddenly released with great force while he was helping disassemble it, throwing him to the floor.
jalopnik.com - 2025-09-25Lawsuit
A robotics technician, Peter Hinterdobler, was knocked unconscious when a FANUC robotic arm's counterbalance weight suddenly released during a planned disassembly at Tesla's Fremont, California plant.
futurism.com - 2025-10-06Lawsuit
Tesla faces lawsuit after a robotic arm knocked a worker unconscious and pinned him to the ground at a factory
cbs8.com
Every claim above traces to one of these
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- expressnews.comAt Tesla's Fremont, California plant in November 2019, a stack of three steel skids on an automated conveyor system knocked worker Paul Janikowski down and dragged him more than 15 feet, seriously injuring both his legs.2025-04-14tier 2
- assemblymag.comA Tesla Fremont factory robotics technician, Peter Hinterdobler, was struck by a robot arm that suddenly released during disassembly, throwing him to the floor, knocking him unconscious, and causing significant injuries.2025-09-22tier 2
- carscoops.comWorker claims Tesla robot knocked him unconscious, files $51 million lawsuit2025-09-24tier 2
- autoblog.comTesla sued for $51 million after a factory robot knocked a worker unconscious.2025-09-24tier 2
- jalopnik.comRobotics technician Peter Hinterdobler, 50, was knocked unconscious and seriously injured at Tesla's Fremont, California plant when a robotic arm on the Model 3 production line suddenly released with great force while he was helping disassemble it, throwing him to the floor.2025-09-24tier 2
- futurism.comA robotics technician, Peter Hinterdobler, was knocked unconscious when a FANUC robotic arm's counterbalance weight suddenly released during a planned disassembly at Tesla's Fremont, California plant.2025-09-25tier 2
- cbs8.comTesla faces lawsuit after a robotic arm knocked a worker unconscious and pinned him to the ground at a factory2025-10-06tier 2
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