GM's Latest Recall a Testament to Value of Class Action Lawsuits

General Motors recently announced another recall of its automobiles over safety concerns. That's a total of 29 separate recalls covering 12.6 million vehicles by the automaker - in the first five months of 2014 alone. GM's previous record high for car recalls in one year was 10.75 million vehicles.

The record number of recalled vehicles is troubling enough for U.S. consumers. Even more disturbing is that none of these dangerous products may have been recalled if it weren't for legal action brought against GM.

Earlier this year, GM recalled 2.6 million vehicles over a potentially deadly design flaw involving a defective ignition switch. Even though the automaker acknowledged it knew of the defect over a dozen years ago, it did not issue the recall until lawsuits were filed against the company this year. Gray Ritter Graham is one law firm that has filed a consumer fraud class action lawsuit against GM, alleging it defrauded Missouri consumers by knowingly selling defective vehicles.

Gray Ritter Graham also recently filed a personal injury lawsuit against GM on behalf of a woman in southern Missouri who crashed and suffered serious injuries, including brain damage, while driving one of the GM cars included in the defective ignition switch recall.

This recent GM experience only reinforces the value of class action litigation. Only after lawsuits were filed did GM do the right thing.

Class action lawsuits protect the legal rights of a large group of individuals harmed by the negligent actions of a business. And while providing financial compensation to those who have been harmed, the litigation can also stop the corporation's negligent behavior so others aren't similarly harmed in the future.

It's no coincidence that GM has recalled 10 million vehicles since its initial recall after being named a defendant in class action litigation.

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