GM Ignition Recall
In February 2014, General Motors recalled 2.6 million vehicles due to an alleged defect with the cars’ ignition switches. According to the automaker, if a driver were to bump the keys while driving the vehicle or if he or she were to drive over rough terrain, the keys could potentially jostle in the ignition switch and shut off the engine without warning. Consequently, if the vehicle turns off, the driver could lose control of the vehicle, the airbags may not deploy, and the driver, passengers and other motorists are at an increased risk of injury and death.
Attorney Group for Mississippi can answer questions on behalf of plaintiffs or their families who have been injured or killed due to a vehicle involved in the GM ignition recall. If you would like to seek counsel from a lawyer or if you have questions about filing a GM ignition recall lawsuit, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can answer your questions and connect you with a lawyer who can assist you throughout the legal process.
According to GM, the automaker has received 34 crash reports and 12 claims of fatalities stemming from accidents that occurred due to the GM ignition recall. Affected cars include the:
- 2007 Sky
- 2003-2007 Saturn Ion
- 2007 G5
- 2006-2007 Pontiac Solstice
- 2006-2007 HHR
- 2005-2007 Chevrolet Cobalt
Safety Advocates Alarmed by Fatal Accidents
Safety advocates claim that two recent fatal accidents involving cars involved in the GM ignition recall provide evidence that GM should advise owners to remove their vehicles from the roads until they can be repaired. In both accidents, the airbags failed to deploy; it is unknown whether the key slipped out of position in either accident.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has acknowledged the accidents but declined to say whether it plans to launch an investigation to determine their cause. The agency is currently probing GM’s allegedly slow response time in issuing its GM ignition recall as evidence has surfaced that the automaker knew of the problems for nearly a decade.
A federal judge in Texas is currently considering such evidence to determine whether cars should be taken off the road until the ignition switches can be replaced, and that decision is expected to be announced in April 2014. If you or a loved one has been injured, consider seeking legal counsel from an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.
On March 7, 2014, nearly one month after the GM ignition recall was announced, a 12-year-old girl was killed in Mississippi when her mother’s Chevrolet Cobalt veered off the road. The girl was thrown from the car and died at the scene of the accident. According to officials, the airbags did not deploy even as the vehicle hit a tree. The girl’s mother states that she suddenly had difficulty steering the car, according to a Mississippi state trooper. Other drivers of vehicles involved in the GM ignition recall have had similar complaints about steering problems.
According to those working with a lawyer and filing lawsuits against GM, the automaker failed to act as soon as it had received word that its parts were allegedly defective. A proposed class action lawsuit is awaiting approval in Texas, claiming that GM knew of the ignition issue since 2004 but neglected to fix the problem.
Need More Information? Contact a Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident involving a vehicle that is part of the current GM ignition recall, you may be eligible to work with a lawyer to file a lawsuit in Mississippi and recover damages for your injuries. You may also have consumer claims arising as a result of the recall. Contact Attorney Group for Mississippi today to learn more about your legal rights. We can review your case at no cost to you and connect you with an affiliated Mississippi lawyer who can work to help you to pursue a claim.
