Colorado motorists might assume that they cannot be held criminally responsible for an accident that is the result of a defective part, but this was not the case for several individuals whose General Motors cars allegedly had faulty ignition switches. One woman who spent six months in jail had her 2004 negligent homicide plea reversed after it came to light that her car was one affected in the recall by of 2.6 million cars in 2014.
Another woman spent three months in prison and had her guilty plea vacated by a judge, but she is seeking a ruling of innocence while prosecutors are appealing the decision. She received a settlement from a compensation fund General Motors set up for accident victims.
One man was charged with manslaughter in May 2014 even though General Motors had issued the recall in February of that year. Because the man had suffered a brain injury in the accident, he had no recollection of what had happened, but others who faced similar charges had reported the cars speeding up or shutting down on their own accord. The man’s attorney hired a private detective who linked the accident to the recall, and charges against the man were dropped. He filed a lawsuit against General Motors after rejecting their initial compensation offer. Another man who spent six months in prison on negligent homicide charges accepted an undisclosed amount from the company.
Motor vehicle accidents can be devastating for individuals who are injured in them. Their recovery might take weeks or months, or they may never make a full recovery. They might have to make significant lifestyle changes. Therefore, it is important to correctly identify who is responsible for an accident so that the victim can obtain compensation. A personal injury attorney can be of assistance in this regard.