General Motors Settles Ignition Switch Lawsuit

Brooke Melton was killed in a Chevrolet Cobalt when the ignition switch defects disabled her car’s steering, brakes, and airbag systems.

She died on a highway in Georgia in 2010. Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit and recovered $5 million in 2013. During that lawsuit, General Motors (GM) officials admitted that they were aware of the ignition switch defect for nearly 10 years.

The family filed a second lawsuit in light of the company’s admissions during depositions. The family’s first lawsuit led to widespread ignition switch recalls of millions of GM vehicles.

Rather than subject company officials to additional depositions that might reveal damaging testimony, GM quietly and secretly settled with the family.

The terms of the settlement have not been released and the company stated that they wanted to protect the Melton family’s privacy.

GM is under siege and is currently battling thousands of lawsuits across the country. At least 64 deaths have been linked to the ignition switch defect cases.

The GM Victim Compensation Fund, which is being administered by Kenneth Feinberg, has begun to settle with injured car accident victims outside of the court system.

The Melton family victory, however, may encourage injured persons and their families to bypass that process and sue GM directly for the injuries that the company has caused.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration already fined GM more than $30 million for failing to disclose the danger to the public.

Recent reports are suggesting that U.S. Department of Justice is still investigating the company and its executives for possible criminal charges.

Ignition Switch Defect Lawyers

Attorneys at Phillips Law Group have been working with injured car accident victims for decades. We have experienced attorneys representing clients throughout Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and California.

If you have been injured due to General Motors negligence, contact a Phoenix personal injury lawyer at our law firm for a free case evaluation of your claim and your injuries.

Call 1-800-706-3000 or use the online contact form.