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Dozens of lawsuits are being filed against General Motors, alleging that the auto maker knew about the problem with its defective ignition switches in millions of vehicles worldwide, yet failed to provide adequate warnings to consumers and federal safety regulators about the risk of injury or death associated with the faulty switches. If you or a loved one suffered injuries caused by a recalled vehicle equipped with a defective GM ignition switch, contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer today for legal help. You may have grounds to file a GM ignition switch lawsuit against General Motors, in order to pursue the financial compensation you deserve for your injuries, medical expenses, financial losses, and pain and suffering.
In February 2014, General Motors recalled approximately 800,000 of its small vehicles over concerns about faulty ignition switches, which could cause the engine to shut off during use, thereby disabling the power steering and preventing the airbags from inflating properly in the event of an accident. Over the course of the next several months, GM continued to recall more of its cars allegedly equipped with defective ignition switches, ultimately resulting in a worldwide recall of nearly 30 million Chevrolet, Pontiac, Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile and Saturn vehicles. According to reports, the “switch detent plunger,” designed to provide the torque necessary to prevent the ignition from turning off unintentionally, failed to do so, allowing the car engines to shut off unexpectedly during use. Hundreds of injuries and fatalities were allegedly caused by the faulty ignition switches causing the car to turn off, disabling the vehicle’s power steering function and preventing the airbags from deploying.
General Motors has been accused of intentionally concealing information about the problem with its ignition switches, allowing consumers to continue using the potentially dangerous vehicles, and therefore contributing to at least 124 deaths and 275 non-fatal injuries involving cars equipped with faulty GM ignition switches. The GM vehicles affected by the ignition switch recall include the following models:
During the course of the investigation launched by the federal government in the aftermath of the GM ignition switch recall, it was revealed that General Motors executives knew about the problem with the faulty ignition switches for at least a decade before issuing the recall in 2014. General Motors itself has linked the defective ignition switches to 124 deaths, nearly ten times the 13 death estimate GM executives initially reported in April 2014, although other sources have reported a death toll of at least 153. As part of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, GM gave $600 million in compensation to surviving victims of accidents caused by faulty ignition switches, though a large number of lawsuits have also been filed against General Motors, by those claiming to have suffered injuries or lost loved ones in accidents involving recalled vehicles with defective switches.
The most alarming thing about the GM ignition switch problem is that something as simple as a heavy keychain could cause the ignition switches to unexpectedly shut off the vehicle engine during use, causing drivers to lose control of their power steering, and, in the event of a crash, preventing the airbags from deploying. If you were injured due to a defective GM ignition switch, or if you lost a loved one in an accident involving a recalled General Motors vehicle, don’t hesitate to discuss your claim with the experienced GM ignition switch attorneys at the Monroe Law Group. You may be entitled to reimbursement for your losses, which you can pursue by filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against General Motors.
Alert: Due to statute of limitations, the time you have to pursue a GM ignition switch claim is limited. Call us right away at 866-308-1092, email us at intake@monroelawgroup.com, or complete the form on this page now.
