As Settlement Payments Offered, Wrongful Death Toll in Delayed Vehicle Recall Reaches 27

In February of this year, General Motors issued a small, quiet vehicle recall covering several hundred thousand older model cars that had a problem with the ignition switch. The cars came from model years 2004-2005, which meant that either the ignition switches were just starting to go bad after 10 years, or the company had delayed the vehicle recall for far too long.

Unfortunately, the latter turned out to be the case. Through the spring and summer, GM faced questioning and accusations from consumers, safety regulators, and lawmakers. CEO Mary Barra testified before Congress that the automotive manufacturer – which had revamped itself following a 2009 bankruptcy case – was doing everything in its power to keep consumers safe from the defective ignition switches. As of October 2014, GM has issued vehicle recalls covering over 30 million vehicles for the ignition switch problem alone, and has issued numerous other recalls due to an abundance of caution around its reputation.

The company hired blockbuster attorney Kenneth Feinberg to determine what sort of compensation fund GM should set up to settle with victims of the faulty ignition switches. The fund was finalized in August, and the company began accepting accident and wrongful death claims. Originally, General Motors said that there were about 60 injuries linked to ignition switch-caused crashes, and 13 deaths.

Now, the compensation fund attorneys have stated that the wrongful death toll directly caused by the ignition switch problem is 27.

As of Friday, October 10th, the Feinberg compensation fund has received 1,371 claims, 178 for wrongful deaths linked to the delayed ignition switch vehicle recall. The fund has accepted 52 of those claims, 27 of which account for the wrongful death toll, and has made settlement offers with the victims and their families. Many of those claims are still under review.

Ignition switch personal injury and wrongful death victims have until December 31st to file a claim. However, many other victims of the delayed vehicle recall have chosen to file lawsuits against General Motors, because they do not believe that they will receive fair treatment through the compensation fund.

GM faces not just civil lawsuits outside of the personal injury compensation fund – which claim that the fund uses unfair metrics to calculate each claim’s validity – but also numerous criminal investigations for negligence and fraud. A judge in civil court is currently deciding whether the terms of GM’s 2009 bankruptcy filing will protect the company from the personal injury claims or not. GM claims that prior to their bankruptcy, the company was “old GM,” which made numerous mistakes and cut corners on production. The company states that “new GM” should not be held responsible for “old GM’s” mistakes.

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 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.