Product recalls claims related to the defective General Motors ignition switch issue continue to mount.
The attorney who is in charge of the GM victim compensaton fund reported that the number of approved product recalls death claims has risen to 29. Prior to the establishment of the settlement fund, General Motors had publicly acknowledged and accepted responsibility for only 13 deaths in connection with the faulty ignition switches. Eligible death claims will receive at least $1 million. In addition to the $1 million starting point, death claims will be evaluated on factors including whether the deceased victim had dependents at the time of death.
The victims compensation program has received a total of 1,517 claims for wrongful death and injuries since claims were first accepted on August 1, 2014.
Some 2.6 million General Motors vehicles were recalled earlier this year because of faulty ignition switches. The ignition switches in the recalled vehicles could slip out of the run position, causing the engine to stall and disabling key safety features such as airbags and anti-lock brakes. GM has been harsely criticized for delaying as long as 11 years after it became aware of the hazard before recalling the impacted vehicles.
Claims for injury or death related to accidents involving GM vehicles that were recalled due to faulty ignition switches must be by December 31st to be eligible for settlement under the GM ignition switch victim compensation program.
If you or a loved one suffered injury or death in an automobile crash involving a recalled General Motors vehicle, contact the experienced Ohio GM Ignition Switch Attorneys at Clark, Perdue & List.