In 2008, General Motors changed the ignition switch in all of its cars. This change was made to improve safety and prevent crashes but it has also been linked to dozens of accidents that have left people paralyzed or dead. In 2015, a lawsuit was filed against GM by families who claim their loved ones died because they are unable to use their hands due to these faulty switches.,
The “gm ignition switch problem explained” is a legal case that was filed by the GM ignition switch lawsuit. The lawsuit claims that the defect caused an accident and led to injuries.
GM is defending personal injury and wrongful death cases, arguing that its ignition switches aren’t at fault for accidents.
In 2014, GM issued a recall for 2.6 million cars owing to ignition switch issues that might cause vehicles to mistakenly fall out of the “run” position, reducing engine power and causing collisions. GM employees were aware of the issue as early as 2001, yet the recall was delayed for 13 years.
GM is being sued by crash victims and their families for personal injuries and wrongful deaths caused by defective ignition switches. Other claims involving ignition switches seek damages for car depreciation.
GM has spent over $7 billion in recall expenses, but it is still battling injury and death cases, saying that its ignition switches are not to fault for collisions. It’s also settling disputes outside of court to minimize public scrutiny and potentially large damages judgments that a jury trial may bring. GM has paid over $2 billion in fines and settlements so far.
Have you been hurt as a result of a GM vehicle’s recalled ignition switch? Do you have legal issues or want assistance in filing a lawsuit? ClassAction.com can assist you.
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What Went Wrong with the GM Ignition Switch Recall: A Quick Look
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When the key is turned, the ignition switch activates the vehicle’s electrical system and starts the vehicle.
“Lock,” “Accessory (ACC),” “On,” and “Start” are all options on most ignition switches. When the automobile is running, the key stays in the “On” position in a properly working ignition switch. However, a device called a “detent plunger” was produced to incorrect specifications in the faulty GM ignition switches, enabling the switch to slide to the “ACC” position when the ignition key was accidently pressed or while driving on uneven terrain.
The engine, power steering, anti-lock braking system, and airbags are all deactivated while the ignition is in the “ACC” position. This may cause a driver to lose control of the car, as well as hinder safety equipment, such as the airbag, from operating when they are most required. In GM automobiles with faulty switches, at least 124 persons were wounded and another 275 were killed.
GM discovered the ignition switch flaw in 2001 and again in 2005, but instead of initiating a recall, sent a “service bulletin” to dealers.
GM discovered the ignition switch flaw in 2001 and again in 2005, but instead of initiating a recall, sent a “service bulletin” to dealers. It also held back information from federal authorities that may have led to a recall sooner.
GM was fined $35 million by the Department of Transportation for failing to disclose a safety problem in a timely way, and $900 million by the Department of Justice for hiding a potentially lethal fault after eventually issuing a recall in 2014.
The delayed recall was blamed on a “cost culture,” according to GM CEO Mary Barra, who also disputed that there was a cover-up. She also said that GM was making strenuous efforts to strengthen its safety culture. The issue spiraled from a cheap and simple cure to a highly costly and deadly debacle as GM’s devastating internal audit revealed the cluelessness that caused the problem to escalate from a cheap and easy fix to a tremendously expensive and deadly fiasco.
The recall disaster resulted in no criminal charges being brought against GM officials, but it did result in the suspension of engineers engaged in the issue. Selling an automobile with a flaw that may kill people is technically lawful.
Victims of GM ignition switch accidents received $575 million from a compensation fund established by GM. Only around 10% of those who submitted claims to the fund were paid.
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Lawsuits Concerning GM Ignition Switches
GM isn’t quite out of the woods in regards to the recall. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the carmaker seeking compensation for ignition switch-related damages, including the following:
- Accidents involving GM vehicles with faulty ignition switches have resulted in personal injury lawsuits.
- Survivors have brought wrongful death cases on behalf of a family member who died in a car accident caused by a defective GM ignition switch.
- Class action lawsuits have been filed in response to the ignition switch recall, seeking compensation for vehicle depreciation.
The 234 GM ignition switch personal injury and wrongful death claims have been consolidated in federal court in New York. Three of the early “bellwether” trials (the first of many identical cases to be heard, which lets defendants determine whether to settle other cases or challenge them in court) went in GM’s favor, while the other half were privately negotiated with the plaintiff. The final trials are set to commence in mid-2017.
Allegations in a Lawsuit
Plaintiffs seeking compensation from GM for faulty ignition switches accuse the company of a variety of wrongdoings, including:
- Vehicles were designed, built, assembled, tested, and marketed in a faulty state.
- Unreasonably risky automobiles were made available to the public, posing a risk of injury.
- Vehicles that have not been thoroughly examined and inspected
- Inadequate quality control procedures were not implemented.
- It didn’t provide enough warnings about a flaw it knew about or should have known about.
- It failed to fulfill its responsibilities to customers.
- Negligence
- As a consequence of these crimes and omissions, there were injuries, fatalities, and financial losses.
Compensation may be available.
Depending on the facts of the case, a GM ignition switch lawsuit may be able to compensate you for the following losses:
- Medical bills from the past and the future
- Wages and/or earning ability lost
- Physical discomfort
- Suffering with mental illness
- Disfigurement
- Disability
- Companionship loss
- Vehicle value loss/damage to property
GM has already paid out $575 million in compensation to accident and death victims via a compensation fund that is no longer accepting new claims. Victims got anything from a few thousand bucks to several million dollars. The following are some instances of compensation fund death payments:
- $2.2 million for a 17-year-old student with no income and no dependents.
- $4 million for a 25-year-old woman earning $46,000 a year, married with two children.
- $5.1 million for a 40-year-old woman earning $75,000 a year, married with no children.
Depending on the duration of hospitalization, injury compensation from the fund ranged from $20,000 to $500,000.
Victims who received compensation from the fund are unable to file a lawsuit against GM.
Eligibility for a Lawsuit
If any of the following apply to you, you may be able to bring a GM ignition switch lawsuit:
- You were hurt in a car accident caused by a defective GM ignition switch.
- You lost a loved one in a car accident caused by a faulty ignition switch.
- You have a GM car with a faulty ignition switch that has lost value due to the recall.
- You refused to accept reimbursement from the General Motors Compensation Fund.
If your issue isn’t included here but you believe you have grounds for legal action, please contact us.
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We are speaking with victims of defective GM ignition switches and helping them to understand their legal rights and options. Get answers to your questions and learn how you can hold GM accountable during a Free Case Evaluation. It costs nothing unless we win a jury award or settlement for you.
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The “gm ignition switch settlement update 2021” is the latest news in a lawsuit against General Motors. The company has been accused of making defective auto and accident lawyer, who are seeking to settle with GM.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will I get from a GM ignition switch lawsuit?
A: If you were to file a lawsuit against General Motors, the total amount of money you would receive from them in legal fees and compensation is unknown at this time due to GMs lack of transparency.
Is the GM ignition switch settlement legit?
A: The GM ignition switch settlement is a real thing and it actually came about as the result of years of litigation. General Motors admitted that for decades they had installed defective engines to their customers cars, even after being told by engineers from other companies how dangerous it was.
What vehicles are included in the GM ignition switch lawsuit?
A: The GM ignition switch lawsuit, which is currently being litigated in several states across the United States.
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