The recall of General Motors (GM) vehicles with faulty ignition switches has raised many questions. Whether you have already been in an accident in Skokie or you are concerned about being in an accident on the Chicago Skyway, you are probably wondering about the following:
- Why is the GM recall different from other automaker recalls? The most important difference in this recall is that GM allegedly knew about the defective ignition switch, but did not issue a recall. As a result, people died, were injured, or were involved in accidents that could have been prevented. On the other hand, Toyota’s recall of approximately 6 million vehicles in April 2014 was not associated with any reported fatalities or injuries related to the defects.
- Is there an investigation? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is currently investigating GM. As of April 8, 2014, GM was being fined $7,000 a day by the NHTSA for failing to answer the agency’s questions by the required deadline. At the same time, GM is facing congressional panels. The NHTSA is also being investigated by congressional panels and the federal Department of Transportation’s inspector general’s office for missing the faulty ignition switch in the now-recalled vehicles.
- What should you do if you have been hurt or lost a loved one because of a faulty ignition switch in a GM vehicle? You should contact an experienced lawyer—your injury, or your loved one’s death, may have been preventable.
As government and other investigations into the GM ignition switch recall continue, more answers should become available. Please check our website regularly for important updates.
