GM fund rejects 91 percent of ignition switch claims

DETROIT — Lawyers hired to compensate victims of General Motors’ faulty ignition switches have finished determining which claims are eligible, rejecting 91 percent of them.

The compensation fund led by lawyer Kenneth Feinberg approved 399 of the 4,343 claims filed and rejected 3,944.

Last year GM recalled 2.6 million small cars because the ignition switches could slip out of the run position, causing the cars to unexpectedly stall, disabling the air bags and power steering and brakes.

The fund has made offers in 124 death cases and 275 injury crashes. Of those, 325 were accepted, eight rejected and 65 haven’t decided.

Two injury claims were added to the eligible list in the past week

Families of those who died will get at least $1 million. GM has set aside $625 million to compensate people.

GM said in a second-quarter filing with securities regulators that it had paid $280 million to compensate ignition switch crash victims and their families as of July 17.

The company said it faces 181 wrongful death or injury lawsuits due to recalled vehicles in the U.S. and Canada.