GM Ignition Switch Linked to Serious Injury and Death

by Jeff Springer and Frank Lyle —

On Feb. 13, 2014, General  Motors (GM) recalled over 750,000 Chevrolet Cobalts and Pontiac vehicles to repair an ignition switch that can allow the key to slip from its “run” position when the car hits a bump or, if the keychain is too heavy. The defect can cause an engine shutdown and loss of power steering, brakes, and safety systems, including airbags and anti-lock brakes.

On Feb. 25, GM expanded the recall to include hundreds of thousands of additional Chevy, Pontiac, and Saturn cars, bringing the total number of affected vehicles to 1.4 million. GM has linked the defect to 31 crashes involving airbags that failed to deploy and the deaths of 13 motorists.

Depositions taken in a civil lawsuit against GM revealed the auto maker knew in 2004 that its Chevrolet Cobalt had an ignition switch that could inadvertently shut off the engine while driving. According to recent news reports, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New York has opened a criminal probe into the circumstances surrounding the GM ignition switch recall.

Our law firm is now accepting cases involving serious injuries or death resulting from crashes involving the 2005-2007 Chevy Cobalt, or model year 2003-2007 Pontiac G5, Saturn Ion, Chevy HHR, Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. Please contact Jeff Springer or Frank Lyle at Springer and Lyle, LLP, 940-387-0404.