Seattle Car Injury Lawyers Protect Drivers of General Motor Vehicles
Are you one of the many drivers who was involved in an accident stemming from a serious safety defect plaguing a General Motors vehicle? Have you lost a loved one to the same? If so, you may qualify to file a lawsuit against GM for its role in not addressing the issue early on.
The Seattle auto accident lawyers of the Bernard Law Group are currently offering free consultations to all those persons who were injured in a collision involving a General Motors vehicle. In addition to an ignition switch defect that GM refused to acknowledge for years, the automaker has recalled millions of other vehicles for additional safety issues that put drivers and passengers at risk. If you sustained an accident of any kind involving a GM vehicle, then contact us.
GM’s Decade-Plus Of Willful Ignorance
What makes this particular issue so frustrating for consumers and safety advocates is GM knew about the defect for more than a decade yet failed to issue the kind of recall that could save lives across the country and the world.
The defect in question involves an ignition switch that has the potential to take the vehicle out of gear when excessive amounts of weight are placed on the ignition. A driver could be navigating down the road when his or her key suddenly shifts the vehicle out of the “On” position.
When this happens, the onboard safety systems are disabled, with the driver losing access to Power Steering, Antilock Brakes, and airbag deployment. Because the issue can appear suddenly and without warning, the risk of a crash increases and vehicle occupants can be put in harm’s way.
The following list indicates just a few of the vehicles and brands that have been affected by this recall:
- Chevy Cobalts
- Chevy HHRs
- Saturn Ions
- Saturn Skys
- Pontiac Solstices
- Pontiac G5s
Despite an initial recall not being issued until this February, records indicate the automaker knew about the defect as far back as 2001, with documentation from GM referencing the problem at that time. In subsequent years, technicians continued to identify the danger but top brass still failed to act.
As a result, at least a dozen people have been killed and many more have been injured. Knowingly defective vehicles were kept on the road with their drivers completely unaware of the danger they were put in by doing nothing more than starting their vehicles.
The Tip Of The Iceberg
As a result of their actions, General Motors has been tasked by the United States Transportation Department with paying a $35 million fine. But the delay of the recall was just the tip of the iceberg.
Since GM’s initial recall of vehicles, the company has issued an unprecedented series of additional recalls affecting automobiles from around the world. In some cases, the ignition switch issue was the impetus for the recall, while in others, whole new issues were to blame. All told, a historic 25 million automobiles currently fall under the banner of one of GM’s recent recalls.
What’s more, repairs continue to be offered at a snail’s pace, meaning many owners still don’t have access to life-saving maintenance and are instead being guided toward removing excessive weight from the key to their vehicle, a stopgap measure at best. And recent reports suggest that GM’s website even fails to indicate to a user that their vehicle has been recalled when they conduct a VIN search.
GM’s Actions Put People In Danger
You deserve better than what General Motors has given you. Even as the automaker continues to shirk its responsibilities, going so far as to try to use bankruptcy as an excuse to escape liability, vehicle owners like you are coming together to receive just compensation for what they’ve gone through.
The Bernard Law Group wants to help you in this regard. Our attorneys are weighing all legal options when it comes to assisting persons whose GM vehicle caused them or their families harm. Our Washington auto accident attorney team is standing by to answer your questions and learn a little more about your situation.
We will leave no stone unturned when it comes to securing you appropriate compensation for medical bills, vehicle repairs, pain and suffering, and the tragic loss of a loved one. Contact us today for a free consultation so that our team can guide you toward the answers you’ve been seeking.
Were you injured because of GM?
GM spent years ignoring the danger, and now that the truth has come out, they continue exercising tactics designed to frustrate accident victims. Don’t let that stand. Contact the Bernard Law Group to get started with your GM ignition switch lawsuit.
Selected News Sources:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/05/16/gm-recall-probe/9169355/
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Owners/Consumer+Alert:+GM+Ignition+Switch+Recall+Information
