GM expert: 2 more deaths eligible for compensation
The death count attributed to General Motors’ ignition switches has been boosted by two more, bringing the count to 21.
Now, with this second increase in a month, the count has gone eight higher than the 13 deaths authorities had previously believed were due to problems with the switches in older-model cars.
Ken Feinberg, the independent administrator for GM’s compensation program, announced the change in a summary of the program’s results so far on his website for the program.
The 21 deaths were those determined to be eligible from 143 claims filed, Feinberg reported. Families of deceased will get at least $1 million.
In addition, he says he has substantiated four claims out of 65 filed involving serious permanent injuries. They include amputations, burns, spinal cord or brain damage. He says he has also found 12 of 467 claims for injuries that involved hospitalization within 48 hours of the accident to be eligible.
Feinberg is accepting claims through Dec. 31, so more people may come forward. GM CEO Mary Barra told reporters Friday she expects the numbers to grow.
“There’s been so much focus on the original numbers, but we’ve always said all along that was based on the information we had available to us,” she said. “There’s no surprises. Our goal has been every person impacted is a part of that program, and that’s the process we’re working through.”
GM has not set any limits on the compensation program. It has, however, estimated that it will spend $400 million to $600 million to settle all claims, excluding any government fines.
The deaths and injuries are due to the faulty switches in a variety of GM models, including Chevrolet Cobalt and HHR, Saturn Ion and Pontiac G5, in the past decade. The switch could move into the “accessory” position if the car hits a bump, turning off the engine. Without the engine, the power assist from the brakes and power steering goes out, and the air bags are disabled.
The defect has resulted in massive recalls by GM and a series of congressional hearings about the problem. GM CEO Barra has also made sweeping changes to the automakers’ safety and quality programs.