NHTSA: GM’s Delayed Vehicle Recall May Have Caused More Than The Reported 13 Deaths

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on May 23rd that there may be more than 13 wrongful deaths caused by crashes because General Motors delayed a vehicle recall.

The company began a vehicle recall in February of this year, which covered a few thousand older model 2004 and 2005 Cobalts, as well as a few other vehicle models. However, the vehicle recall quickly expanded to 2.6 million cars, and GM admitted that the 10-year-old cars, which had faulty ignition switches, led to crashes that injured 31 people, and killed 13. Many assert that GM knew about the defective cylinder for over 10 years, and that GM chose not to take any action, leading to senseless injury and deaths and GM ignition recall lawsuits.

Now, an investigation from the NHTSA shows that there may have been more than 13 deaths due to the long-delayed vehicle recall.  Drivers and witnesses to key ignition defect accidents are reporting that they observed the lights on the vehicle dimming as well as loss of power.

On Friday, May 23rd, spokesman Jim Cain said that GM recently informed regulators that an internal investigation had revealed about a dozen more crashes connected with the ignition switch problem. In response, the NHTSA said that The final death toll associated with this safety defect is not known to NHTSA, but we believe it’s likely that more than 13 lives were lost.”

The agency added: “GM would be in the position to determine additional cases related directly to this defect based on lawsuits, incident claims and additional data reported directly to the automaker from its customers, dealerships, insurance companies, safety groups and other sources.”

“GM knew about the safety defect, but did not act to protect Americans from that defect until this year. The families and friends of those lost in the crashes have the deepest sympathies of everyone at NHTSA. They deserve straight answers about what happened to their loved ones,” NHTGSA said in a statement.

Meanwhile, GM CEO Mary Barra told members of Congress that the automotive manufacturer may not be able to make ignition switches fast enough to keep up with the massive vehicle recall.

The company has issued 29 vehicle recalls this year, in large part to show that the company takes responsibility for its delayed 2004/2005 model year recall.

In response to the ignition switch vehicle recall, GM has created a website to help customers determine if their vehicle has been recalled or not: gmignitionswitchupdate.com. In all, GM has recalled 6.1 million vehicles in the last 16 months.

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, so contact us today at (803) 252-4800.