GM Ignition-Switch Fund Approves 4 More Death Claims

General Motors Co. has now approved compensation for 56 deaths attributed to the company's defective ignition switches, up from 52 claims a week earlier.

Last week the fund handling the payments also received another 75 applications for compensation for death or injury. The last-minute applications were postmarked before the program ended on Jan. 31.

The fund has now received more than 4,300 claims overall, including 478 for deaths and 288 for catastrophic injuries resulting from crashes in which the switches were jolted out of the "run" position.

GM says it has ruled 513 claims ineligible and is reviewing nearly 1,400 others. About 1,200 claims have been filed with no documentation.