GM Shells Out for Faulty Ignition Switches

Posted in Product Liability on September 29, 2015

When you buy a product, you expect it to work correctly and safely. You expect that the company will extensively test the product, and alert you to any recalls or safety concerns regarding the product. When a story surfaces like the recent investigation done against General Motors which suggests that GM not only knew about a safety hazard but withheld that information from the public, it can really shake your trust in that company. Because GM rejected a cheap and simple fix on their ignition switches, the company must now pay out over $900 million.

There have been at least 169 deaths linked to the faulty switches, which can slip out of the “run” position and shut off the engine. When this happens, the power-assisted steering, power brakes, and the air bags are disabled. This caused many drivers to lose control of their vehicle, running off the road or crashing into another vehicle. Last year, GM recalled 2.6 million older cars that may have been affected by this problem to replace the ignition switches. But it was too little too late. Court papers showed that GM engineers were aware of the problem back in 2004, but chose not to do anything about it. In 2012, when it became clear to the public that there was some issue with the ignition switches in these vehicles, GM still denied any safety concern, claiming that their used vehicles were safe.

If you have been injured as a result of a defective or dangerous product, speak with a product liability lawyer today. These types of cases are extremely technical, so it is best to work with a personal injury attorney experienced in this type of case. If you are in the Houston area, contact The Freeman Law Firm today.

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