GM agrees to extend deadline for switch claims

General Motors said late Sunday that it will extend the deadline for victims to apply for compensation arising from death or injuries due to its faulty ignition switches.

Its statement came after the company's independent administrator for handling the claims, Ken Feinberg, said he would seek the extension.

"We agreed with Ken Feinberg's recommendation to extend the compensation program deadline. Our goal with the program has been to reach every eligible person impacted," the statement says.

The new deadline to file will be Jan. 31. The previous deadline was Dec. 31.

Feinberg said in a statement received by the Associated Press that the extension is being done to make sure every effort is made to reach the owners of the mostly older cars that had the defective switches. About 2.6 million vehicles, including nameplates like Saturn Ion and Chevrolet Cobalt, are under recall for switches that can move out of the "run" position while being driven, causing the air bags and power steering to cut out.

GM is still notifying victims that it believes switch issues figured in their accidents. The AP says GM reached the family of Jean Averill, 66, of Washington, Conn., who died when her Ion crashed into a tree.