In the first half of 2014, automotive manufacturer General Motors (GM) fell under significant scrutiny due to a failure to properly recall vehicles with potentially faulty ignition switches in a timely fashion. In fact, GM knew about the defect for approximately ten years before issuing a recall, and the company now faces substantial government sanctions and numerous lawsuits from injured victims.
The ignition switch in numerous GM models could possibly allow the key to turn out of position while the car was in motion. When the key turned, the following dangerous conditions may occur:
- The engine suddenly shuts off
- Disabled power steering
- Disabled air bags
Though drivers may have noticed that the engine suddenly turned off, many were unable to pull the vehicle over due to the disabled power steering system. This often caused collisions, which caused especially serious injuries since air bags did not properly deploy.
Prior to the initial recall, potentially thousands of motorists suffered injuries in accidents related to the defect and at least 13 people died in related accidents. Many accident victims have already come forward and filed legal claims against GM. Legal experts suspect that many more fatalities and injuries may have occurred, and that the lawsuits against GM have only begun. If you have suffered injury in an accident due to a GM defect,
contact the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, as soon as possible to discuss a possible case.
Vehicles with Defective Ignition Switches
So far, GM has recalled the following model years of vehicles due to a potentially faulty ignition switch:
- Chevrolet Cobalt, 2005-2010
- Chevrolet HHR, 2006-2011
- Saturn Ion, 2003-2007
- Saturn Sky, 2007-2010
- Pontiac Solstice, 2006-2010
- Pontiac G5, 2007-2010
If you own any of the above vehicles, you should visit the online GM
recall center for instructions on how to proceed. Additionally, GM has issued the recall of millions more vehicles in 2014 alone due to other defects, so you should check to see if your vehicle has been recalled for another reason.
Contact an Experienced Faulty Ignition Switch Attorney for a free consultation
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a faulty ignition switch on a GM vehicle, you are likely entitled to substantial compensation for all of your accident-related losses. Numerous lawsuits are already in progress against GM in which victims are seeking to recover for property damage, medical bills, pain and suffering, wrongful death, emotional trauma, and much more. The attorneys at the Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, are helping victims of defective GM vehicles recover for their losses, so
contact our office today at (727) 451-6900 for assistance.