Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over General Motors Worldwide Ignition Switch Recall
Owners of recalled GM vehicles may be able to pursue financial compensation thanks to a class action lawsuit recently filed against General Motors over its ignition switch recall.
A class action lawsuit has been filed against General Motors (GM) on behalf of several Pennsylvania residents as a result of the company’s worldwide vehicle recall, alleging that the auto maker intentionally concealed faulty airbag issues and ignition switch problems from car owners for years. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on April 8, and, if class action status is granted, would include claims for all owners of vehicles impacted by the recent GM recall. If a loved one of yours died in a car accident because of an ignition switch problem or because airbags failed to deploy upon impact, our consumer advocates at the Leading Justice can help. We are dedicated to protecting the rights of consumers harmed by defective auto parts, and can put you in touch with a knowledgeable attorney today who has experience handling class action cases.
Faulty Ignition Switches, Airbag Problems
According to allegations raised in the GM class action lawsuit, filed by Paul J. Pollastro, Austin DePalma, and Bob and Dorothy McCann, General Motors misled car owners and federal safety regulators for years regarding the safety and quality of its vehicles. In February, GM announced its first recall of close to 800,000 vehicles in the United States, due to problems with faulty ignition switches that could cause the vehicle to turn off, thereby preventing airbags from being properly deployed in the event of an accident. The recall has since been expanded to include more than 2.5 million GM vehicles worldwide, and General Motors officials have admitted that they knew about the ignition switch problem for more than a decade before finally initiating the recall this year.
Accidents, Deaths Tied to Recalled GM Vehicles
As many as 31 motor vehicle accidents and 13 deaths have been linked to ignition switch problems in GM vehicles, and experts indicate that many more serious injuries and deaths may have been caused by the recalled vehicles. According to a report by the Center for Automobile Safety for example, more than 300 deaths have been reported to federal regulators following car accidents in which airbags in some of the recalled vehicles failed to deploy. In their class action lawsuit, the Pennsylvania residents allege that GM has long known about the problems afflicting its vehicles and actively tried to conceal the issues by blaming incidents on driver error and other factors.
Contact an Experienced GM Recall Attorney Today
A congressional investigation into General Motors’ problems has revealed that officials inside the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) called for an deeper look into problems with GM vehicles at least twice since 2007, but were told both times by other agency officials that an investigation wasn’t necessary. In 2005, General Motors reportedly developed a partial solution to the ignition switch problem that would have cost about $1 per vehicle, but the company ultimately decided not to implement the repair. If you have suffered injuries in a car accident involving a recalled GM vehicle, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries and medical expenses. Contact an experienced GM vehicle recall lawyer today to discuss your legal options.
[box type=”note” align=”aligncenter” ]Source: http://www.gmignitionupdate.com/[/box]