GM Ignition Switch Death Toll Climbs to 21
The death toll as a result of faulty ignition switches in General Motors vehicles has officially climbed to 21.
To control the GM victims compensation fund, the company hired independent administrator Kenneth Feinberg, who has now approved 21 death claims.
The amount of claims are climbing as well, jumping to 675 compared to 445 from the previous week. The majority of the increase is made up by injury claims, which climbed from 320 on Sept. 12 to 532 by last Friday. That number includes 65 cases of serious injury and 467 hospitalizations.
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For each approved claim of death, the fund will pay out $1 million to the family along with payments of $300,000 to each surviving spouse and child. The economic value of the life lost will also be calculated and paid out to the family.
The issue with the ignition switch is a lack of torque, which means that the key can turn and power down the car unexpectedly. When this happens, the power steering and brakes lose power and the airbags will not deploy. The claims have come from both drivers and passengers inside the cars.
GM recalled 2.6-million cars in February 2014 as a result of this issue, nearly a decade after the problem was uncovered. Since then, the brand has conducted its own internal review of its safety system, and commissioned an independent review. As a result, GM has called back roughly 29 million vehicles in 2014.
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Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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