General Motors ignition switch compensation program led by lawyer Kenneth Feinberg has now approved 29 death claims linked to faulty switches in millions of the automaker’s cars. The program began accepting claims on August 1 and has received 1,517 death and injury claims to date, according to a report released by Feinberg’s office Friday.
GM set up its ignition switch compensation program after it was discovered it delayed to recall 2.6 million small cars with a faulty ignition switch. The switch may slip out of position, shutting the car off and disabling the airbags, steering, brakes and other systems.
Reuters reports 56 claims have been deemed eligible for compensation so far, including 29 deaths and 27 injuries. The number of claims for both injuries and deaths was up 11 percent this week from 1,371 last week. This includes six new death claims, bringing to total number received now to 184.
The program will accept injury and death claims until December 31. Approved death claims are eligible for a payout of at least $1 million, plus additional money if the deceased has a surviving spouse or dependants. Feinberg and his office have made 31 monetary offers so far and 20 families have accepted the compensation.
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