In a story that continues to attract attention in Texas and around the country, General Motors (GM) recently announced that it will recall eight million additional vehicles in order to replace faulty ignition switches. The faulty switches have caused 13 fatalities and several car crashes.
According to reports, the total number of vehicles GM recalled in the first half of 2014 is estimated at 29 million vehicles; which equals the number of vehicles GM has sold in the past eight years.
Sources estimate that GM will be responsible to pay more than a billion dollars to victims, and GM recently announced that it has set up a compensation fund for victims. According to recent reports, GM may pay $1 million each to surviving families of victims that died because of the faulty ignition switches.
In mass tort cases involving products liability, like this one, lawsuits may be filed against a variety of different parties. Through different methods, a group of injured people may be able to recover damages for injuries and other types of harm suffered as a result of defective products. Through the protections of consumer protection and product liability law, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and retailers of a defective product that causes harm may be liable to victims. Under the law, there are different theories upon which each, or all, may be liable.
Because there can be different theories of liability and multiple parties involved, it is important to have a thorough knowledge and proper understanding of how to bring a claim for damages. Being informed can help victims, or in this case, victims' family members, arrive at a successful outcome that will hopefully help with the recovery process.