In November of 2013, a young Pennsylvania father of five, James Yingling, III, died after he spent 17 days in a coma caused by a crash in a GM vehicle. At the time, the Yingling family could not understand why or how the accident occurred. “No one understood why Yingling had failed to turn when the road ended at a “T” intersection, leaving his car badly damaged and lying on its side in a ditch.”
In early 2014, just a few short months after Yingling’s fatal accident, GM recalled millions of vehicles in early 2014 because of defective ignition switches. Because of this recall, the family of the young father of five decided to investigate the cause of the fatal crash further. The family learned that it happened as a result of a defective ignition switch.
The defective switches would shut the vehicle off while driving. When a vehicle’s ignition switch is shut off, the vehicle loses power steering and power braking capabilities. Also, the airbags don’t deploy when the ignition switch is in the “off” position.
Yingling’s defective ignition switch would render his Saturn Ion’s power braking, steering, and airbags useless, all of which would have saved his life. If he had the use of the power braking and steering, he may not have lost control of the vehicle. And most certainly, his life could have been spared if his airbags had deployed properly during the crash.
As a result of the discovery of the cause of the fatal crash several months after its tragic loss, the family was able to file a successful claim against GM for damages and the loss of their young father. The family ultimately settled its lawsuit with GM before going to trial.
You can rely on the compassionate San Francisco personal injury attorneys at Alexander Law Group, LLP to guide you through the aftermath of a serious car crash. We are here for our clients and will passionately seek appropriate compensation for you. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
