GM Faces Delayed Ignition Switch Defect Class Action Lawsuit

General Motors, with the help of attorney Kenneth Feinberg, has created a method to compensate victims of the delayed ignition switch vehicle recall, which the company now acknowledges led to almost 60 injuries and 13 deaths.

However, a number of victims who are unsatisfied with the conditions required to file for compensation have now filed a class action lawsuit against GM.

On Tuesday, July 29th, GM was hit with a class action lawsuit from 658 plaintiffs who were either injured by the faulty ignition switch in their vehicle, or, in the case of 29 plaintiffs, had a loved one killed because of the delayed vehicle recall.

“At any given moment, an ignition switch in a wide variety of General Motors vehicles could fail, killing or maiming countless individuals,” the complaint contends.

After GM issued the first vehicle recall in February for cars in model years 2004 and 2005 due to a faulty ignition switch, the public began to question why the recall had not been issued earlier. Questioning led to a lengthy investigation, a number of  terminations within GM, and testimony before a Congressional safety committee, as well as over 20 million vehicles recalled because of the faulty ignition switches.

“We want to do the right thing for the people who were physically injured or lost a loved one as a result of an ignition switch issue in a Cobalt or one the other recalled small cars,” GM spokesman Jim Cain said in an email. “They should file a compensation claim, and Mr. Feinberg will independently evaluate them beginning on August 1.”

The class action lawsuit, however, covers plaintiffs who believe that their personal injuries will not be covered by GM’s compensation plan, and seeks reimbursement for physical and emotional injuries. The lawsuit will also involve plaintiffs who would not receive “fair compensation” under the terms of the ignition switch compensation plan, including those who have GM vehicles manufactured after the company filed for bankruptcy in 2009, and those whose injuries due to a crash are not deemed serious – such as those who stayed in the hospital for only one night.

The company’s other vehicle recalls include the 2010-2012 Cadillac SRX; 2010-2012 Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain; 2011-2012 Buick Regal and LaCrosse; 2011-2012 Chevrolet Camaro, covering 475,161 units, due to loose bolts in the power height seat adjustment systems for both driver’s and passenger’s side front seats, which can cause the seats to move freely. Another recall covers 151,923 2013-2014 Buick Encore; 2013-2014 Cadillac ATS; 2014 Cadillac CTS and ELR; 2014 Chevrolet Caprice and SS; 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado LD and HD; 2014-2015 GMC Sierra LD and HD, which may have an incomplete weld in the seat hook bracket. About 127,235 units of the model years 2011-2013 Buick Regal and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu are being recalled due to an electrical problem that could lead to a driver being notified only if both bulbs in a turn signal go out. Just 3,065 2014-2015 Chevrolet Sparks are recalled because part of the steering system could loosen over time; and a mere 25 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon Denalis are under vehicle recall because some roof carriers may have been secured with the wrong nuts and the roof rail airbags could become damaged.

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.