GM Ignition Switch Lawsuit Filed Over 29 Car Accident Deaths, Hundreds of Injuries
A lawsuit has been filed against General Motors over personal injuries and wrongful deaths resulting from car accidents involving GM vehicles.
Automaker General Motors faces a new lawsuit filed on behalf of the families of 29 people killed in car accidents allegedly caused by ignition switch defects in GM vehicles, in addition to 629 people who suffered injuries when airbags in recalled GM vehicles failed to deploy in a collision. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on July 29, and seeks damages on behalf of individuals who do not qualify for the GM victim’s compensation fund. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident involving a recalled GM vehicle, consult a qualified GM recall attorney today to discuss your legal options. You may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against GM, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries and medical expenses.
GM Car Accident Injuries, Deaths
General Motors has recalled close to 20 million vehicles this year over faulty ignition switches, which may cause certain vehicles to shut off during use, possibly causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle, or preventing the airbags from deploying in the event of an accident. Although nearly 20 million vehicles have been affected by the GM ignition switch recall, the car maker has only promised to compensate victims of accidents involving about 2.6 million Pontiac, Chevy and Saturn vehicles, despite recent information indicating that GM knew about the ignition switch problem for years and failed to take action to protect consumers.
GM Ignition Switch Recall
The first ignition switch recall was announced in February 2014, and affected certain Chevrolet HHR, Chevy Cobalt, Pontiac Pursuit, Pontiac G5, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Saturn Ion vehicles. After facing considerable criticism for concealing information about the defect from consumers, General Motors has gone back through its safety records and recalled an additional 17 million vehicles due to faulty ignition switches. However, victims of car accidents involving these recalled vehicles are not eligible for reimbursement through the General Motors victim’s compensation fund, and many affected individuals are now pursuing legal action against the automaker through this lawsuit.
Lawsuits Over Defective Ignition Switches
All of the claims included in this GM ignition switch lawsuit involve car accidents that occurred after General Motors’ 2009 bankruptcy organization. Another suit is expected to be filed on behalf of an additional 136 people injured and 21 killed in car accidents that occurred prior to the bankruptcy filing. For its part, General Motors has announced that it intends to file a motion seeking immunity against GM recall lawsuits involving personal injuries and wrongful deaths caused by defects in GM vehicles sold before its bankruptcy reorganization, claiming that the new company should not be held responsible for actions of the old company.
An Experienced GM Recall Attorney Can Help
“New GM’s refusal to honestly speak about the defective ignition switch has gone on too long – more than four and a half years since Old GM filed for bankruptcy,” the lawsuit states. “Throughout that time, New GM knew of the life-threatening danger, and yet concealed the risk from drivers.” If you have suffered injuries in a car accident involving a recalled GM vehicle, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal accident caused by a defective ignition switch, our consumer advocates at the Leading Justice can help. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers harmed by the negligent actions of others, and can help put you in touch with an experienced GM ignition switch lawyer today.
