A GM ignition switch defect lawsuit has been filed collectively by a mother and father on behalf of their deceased son, along with several individuals alleging the defect caused serious injury and death.

Plaintiffs Sharon and Perry M. filed the ignition switch defect lawsuit alleging their son Parker’s wrongful death was caused by injuries he sustained in a car crash resulting from the GM defect.

Four additional plaintiffs are also named in the ignition switch lawsuit: Emily C., Marie B., Doris C. and Frank S.

Allegations Raised in GM Ignition Switch Defect Lawsuit

Sharon and Perry say their son Parker was driving a 2003 Cadillac CTS and as he was driving on a highway in North Dakota, the defects in the ignition switch, which were later acknowledged in a GM a recall, caused Parker to lose control as the power to his vehicle was cut off.

His vehicle left the roadway, entered a ditch and overturned. Parker died as a result of the crash.

Parker’s parents claim that “Defendant’s defects as alleged herein where the direct and proximate cause of Parker’s injuries and death.”

Plaintiff Emily C. stated that she lost control of her 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt and collided with a tree, but the airbags in her vehicle did not deploy and she suffered severe injuries.

Plaintiff Marie B. was driving a 2007 Chevrolet H HR and was stopped at an intersection when two other vehicles crashed into her car. The airbags did not deploy in her car either, according to the ignition switch defect lawsuit, and she suffered severe injury.

Frank S. was driving a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro and lost power to his vehicle which made it unable for him to control it. His vehicle left the roadway and crashed.

Doris C. drove a 2006 Chevy Cobalt and she lost power to her vehicle and was not able to control it, causing her to drive off the roadway and hit a parked car, causing severe physical injuries.

“Unbeknownst to the Plaintiffs, their vehicles had serious and unreasonably dangerous defects with the ignition switch is, electronic stability control system, steering system defect, vehicle crashworthiness, and/or lack of airbag sensors for rollover vehicle accident protection,” the ignition switch defect lawsuit states.

Specifically, the ignition switch in the aforementioned GM vehicles, as well as many others included in the GM recall, were prone to having the switch change from the “Run” position to the “Accessory Position while the vehicle was in motion, causing the vehicle to lose power and all safety functions of the car such as steering and braking were no longer operable.

“This defective condition directly resulted in a loss of safety functionality exactly at the time and place where the Plaintiffs’ most needed these essential functions to lessen the impact of the collisions,” the ignition switch defect lawsuit argues.

The plaintiffs have brought forth a number of counts against GM including strict liability for manufacturing defect and design defect, strict liability for failure to warn, negligence, fraudulent concealment, statutory actions and punitive damages.

The plaintiffs are seeking a trial by jury to recover actual damages, punitive damages and additional damages and relief as deemed proper by the Court.

The GM Ignition Switch Defect Lawsuit is Case No. 1:16-cv-09251, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.