Death toll from defective GM ignition switches rises to 117
Jun 22, 2015, 10:48 AM
DETROIT (AP) — The death toll from faulty ignition switches in General Motors’ small cars has risen by three to 117.
Victims’ families are being offered compensation of at least $1 million each by attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM last year. In addition, Feinberg will make offers to 237 people who were injured in crashes caused by the switches in the Chevrolet Cobalt and other older cars.
GM recalled 2.6 million of the cars last year, but acknowledged it knew about the switch problems for more than a decade.
Feinberg’s compensation fund received 4,342 claims by the Jan. 31 deadline. Seventy-nine claims remain under review. About 90 percent were deemed deficient or ineligible.
GM paid $200 million to settle claims filed with Feinberg as of March 31.
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