Toll from faulty General Motors ignition switches rises to 84 deaths, 157 injuries

Families of at least 84 people killed in crashes caused by defective General Motors ignition switches will get compensation from the company.

Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was hired by GM to compensate victims, updated the total Monday. It was up from 80 last week.

An additional 157 injured people also are eligible for compensation.

The fund received a total of 4,342 claims by the January 31 deadline. Of those, 1,136 are still under review. Feinberg says more than half are ineligible or lack documentation.

GM knew about problem switches in Chevrolet Cobalts and other small cars for more than a decade but recalled them only last year. They can slip out of the "on" position, which cuts off the engine, knocks out power steering and turns off air bags.