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Completing Paperwork For Your Personal Injury Case

Taking Legal Action As A Class

30 November 2016

Christopher Wilson

The phrase "class action lawsuit" is often heard, but many people don't really understand what it means and what the benefits would be of filing suit with many other people. Everyone has the potential to be a member of the "class" if they have used a product or service that has come under legal scrutiny. Read on to have a better understanding of what a class action lawsuit means and why they are beneficial to everyone.

What is meant by a class action suit?

The word "class" in this term is meant to encompass all those who may have been harmed by a service, product, or situation. For example, if you were given tainted drugs from a compounding pharmacy and suffered harm as a result, you and everyone who took those drugs are potential members of the class. Grouping many people with like cases together saves time and money, since only a single lawsuit is necessary. You can, if you desire, decline to be a member of the class and file suit on your own. If you join the class action, however, you agree to accept the award and not to file suit on your own.

What are other benefits of class action lawsuits?

1. Standing up to a large corporation. You can rest assured that a big company will employ the very best legal team available to fight any lawsuit. Most people who have been harmed (called plaintiffs) lack the resources, on their own, to hire a legal team with the adequate resources to fight against large corporations. Attorneys who take on class action lawsuits for plaintiffs are often composed of a team of many different attorneys from across the country, all well-versed in litigating this type of tort and getting the best possible compensation for their clients. Just as in most small personal injury cases, the attorneys usually work on a contingency fee basis, taking a certain percentage of the money damages as their fee.

2. Making changes for the better. When a company produces bad products or persists in providing poor services to consumers, it is often the negative publicity from a class action lawsuit (or at least the threat of one) that prompts that company to take action. Often, you will see action taken quickly when many consumers rise up and join in class action lawsuits. Product recalls and re-designs, changes in policies, and more positive reactions have often been prompted by the threat or action of a class action lawsuit. The changes for the better produce a ripple effect that goes beyond those consumers who participate in the lawsuit, benefiting all consumers who use products and services.

For more information about class action lawsuits, speak to a personal injury attorney.

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