DETROIT - A special compensation fund set up by General Motors has approved 27 death claims and 25 claims of serious injuries in crashes involving GM cars with defective ignition switches.
The update comes from Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM to run the program.
Feinberg says he has received 178 death claims since August, including the 27 approved for payment.
1,193 injury claims have been received, including the 25 that have received compensation offers.
GM knew about faulty ignition switches in Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for more than a decade but didn't recall them until February of this year. The switches can slip out of the "on" position, which causes the cars to stall, knocks out power steering and turns off the air bags.
Feinberg will accept claims until Dec. 31.
