GM receives 100 death claims for ignition-switch defect

General Motors’ victims fund has reportedly received applications naming at least 100 deaths, each allegedly caused by defective ignition switches.

Not all of the claims may be approved, though the numbers mesh with analyst estimates of the likely number of people killed due to the defect. GM has refused to budge on its position, claiming that just 13 deaths can be clearly attributed to the problem.

Aside from the death claims, the fund has received nearly 200 separate applications seeking compensation for other injuries.

The numbers do not include some alleged deaths and injuries that are at the center of formal lawsuits against the company. Some plaintiffs are pursuing compensation in court before filing applications through GM’s own fund.

The company expects the fund to pay at least $400 million, potentially up to $600 million or more. There is no ‘cap,’ but the fund’s outside administrator, attorney Kenneth Feinberg, has not released any details surrounding the number of applications that are being rejected or the average payout for the approved submissions.