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GM Ignition Switch Wrongful Death Claim Toll Reaches 36

Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Claims Against GM’s Faulty Ignition Switches Rise

wrongful death claimAccording to the attorneys overseeing the General Motors defective ignition switch compensation fund, the number of wrongful death claims went up in the last week of November, and the number of reported deaths believed to be directly related to ignition switch defects and the delayed vehicle recall has risen to 36.

The totals were updates on Monday, December 1st. The compensation fund says that it also recognized 44 wrongful death claims of serious personal injury. The fund has received 2,215 claims of personal injury and wrongful deaths because of the long-delayed vehicle recall so far. Claimants originally had until December 31st to file a claim, but because of the number of claims, GM has extended the fund’s deadline until January 31st, 2015.

The wrongful death claims break down into 1,844 claims of less-serious injuries from ignition switch-related accidents that required some hospitalization; 142 catastrophic personal injury claims; and 229 claims of wrongful death. The report said that 216 claims so far have been deemed ineligible for compensation from the vehicle recall fund, while 463 claims lacked sufficient paperwork, and 1,081 (almost half) had no documentation at all.

NHTSA Urges GM Owners to Have Ignition Switches Replaced

On Tuesday, December 2nd, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urged consumers who drive General Motors vehicles to see if their car is part of the vehicle recall that covers almost 4 million cars, trucks, and SUVs, and to immediately have ignition switches replaced.

“NHTSA urges owners of unrepaired GM vehicles to immediately contact their local dealer to arrange a service appointment. GM reports that many dealers will help owners get their vehicles remedied after work and on the weekends,” NHTSA said.

The vehicle recall covers the 2003-07 Saturn Ion, 2005-10 Chevrolet Cobalt, 2006-11 Chevrolet HHR, 2007-10 Pontiac G5, 2006-10 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-10 Saturn Sky. Owners can go to safercar.gov and look up their vehicle’s VIN to see if it is part of the large ignition switch vehicle recall.

“Vehicle owners should contact their local dealers immediately to schedule an appointment to get the final remedy. Until the affected vehicle is fixed, owners should follow all of the interim safety steps advised by GM and keep in mind that the use of a single key is not a long term solution to the this serious safety problem,” GM said.

GM added that, as of November 24th, the company had replaced 1.36 million ignition switches in recalled vehicles, over half of the cars under vehicle recall. The company is redoubling its efforts to ensure all GM consumers have their ignition switches repaired, including targeted marketing to non-English speaking vehicle owners, and incentives like gift cards to customers who bring in their vehicles.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Defective Products and Vehicle Recall Cases

If you have experienced a problem with a defective product in your automobile, especially if a defective part has led to an auto accident or personal injury, and a proper vehicle recall notice has not been issued, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We can help you with complicated auto insurance claims, and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve to help you with lost income and medical bills. Our South Carolina GM Vehicle Recall attorneys are licensed to practice in South Carolina, Georgia, and New York. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case. Contact us today at (803) 252-4800.

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