GM Ignition Switch Death Toll Rises to 109
Two more death claims have been approved, increasing the GM ignition switch death toll to 109.
The number of deaths related to the massive ignition switch recall continues to rise as the GM compensation fund is still sorting through claims. In addition to the two new approved death claims, the compensation fund has also approved nine new injury claims, bringing that total to 208. Of those approved injury claims, 179 are for less severe injuries while 12 are for serious injuries. The American automaker is paying at least $1 million for each death claim and has set aside a total of $550 million to pay claims.
SEE ALSO: GM Approves Three New Death Claims for Total of 107
The U.S. Justice Department is nearing a decision on whether GM will be charged criminally for delaying the recall and is expected to fine the American automaker over $1.2 billion. Last year, GM initially said that the ignition switch defect was related to 13 deaths, after delaying the recall on the cars for nearly a decade. A total of 4,342 claims have been submitted to the GM compensation fund, including 474 death claims. With 25 death claims still under review, it is likely that the GM ignition switch death toll will rise again before the dust settles.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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