General Motors Pledges to Fix Faults as Ignition Death Toll Rises to 23

General Motors has pledge to repair faulty parts on its smaller cars at a time when the death toll from a defective ignition switch has risen to 23.

ABC reported on how GM’s CEO Mary Barra told investors the company will rely on new models and a massive push to sell more cars in China to boost profits in coming years, as the it “tries to shift the spotlight from a mishandled recall of older small cars.”

GM recalled 2.6 million small cars including Chevrolet Cobalts and Saturn Ions earlier this year to fix faulty ignition switches that are now blamed for at least 23 deaths nationwide. Barra said suppliers have made enough parts to fix all of the switches. However, only 1.1 million small cars have had the repairs so far.

In a recent report The New York Times stated the death toll is now at 23, according to a program overseen by Kenneth R. Feinberg, the victim compensation specialist. That’s 10 higher than the previous figure given by GM.

The program is sending its first letters out with payment offers to more than 30 families that have filed death and injury claims, according to Camille Biros, the deputy administrator of the program.

The New York Times reported 39 claims have been determined to be eligible for payments from GM. As of the end of September, the program had received 867 claims, including 153 for deaths. Ms. Biros stated that the fund has officially rejected about 40 of the total claims. Many of the others remain under review, most of them awaiting more evidence that the faulty ignition switch was a factor in the crash.

The deadline for filing claims to GM under its compensation program is the end of the year, but the process of evaluating claims and requesting additional evidence could continue for months after that.

If you need help with a claim you should contact Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers. Our Virginia defective products attorneys help people who have been injured by faulty cars, medicine, toys or other products. Call us at 757.455.0077