How to Get Involved in a Class Action Lawsuit

You can still join a class action lawsuit, but not necessarily as the lead plaintiff. If you have suffered similar injuries as the lead plaintiff, you may be able to join a class action lawsuit against the defendant. In this case, you'll be referred to as a class member.

Talk to an experienced attorney about your injuries. Your attorney will let you know whether you are eligible to join the lawsuit. If you are, you'll likely receive a confirmation letter via mail confirming your participation in the lawsuit. Sometimes, you may even receive this letter without necessarily signing up as a class member. 

The truth is that class action lawsuits are not designed for all kinds of cases. They are best suited for specific situations. Let's take a look at some of these scenarios. 

Filing a class action lawsuit is usually the best way to proceed with a lawsuit against a big company if you've suffered minor injuries due to their negligence. This is because a class action lawsuit can help reduce litigation costs. When you suffer minor injuries, chances are the costs of litigation might be more than the settlement amount to expect. But by joining a class action lawsuit, you can still obtain compensation for your injuries without worrying about litigation costs.

Class action lawsuits usually have a higher chance of settling than standard civil lawsuits. This is because class action lawsuits usually involve many plaintiffs. As a result, the other party will likely be willing to settle to get the case out of the way. But when you file an individual lawsuit, chances are the defendant will want to frustrate the litigation process to the point where it becomes pointless to seek compensation.

Another great benefit about class action lawsuits is that they save your time, that is, if you're not the lead plaintiff. All you have to do is sit back and follow the proceedings from the comfort of your home. You do not have to ask for days off from work to attend court hearings or other legal duties. Instead, the lead plaintiffs represent all members of the class seeking compensation for their damages.

There's no standard statute of limitations for filing a class action lawsuit. It all depends on the reason for filing the lawsuit and the jurisdiction handling the case.

For example, in some states, the statute of limitations for filing a product liability lawsuit is three years. In other states, you have up to two years from the date of malpractice to file a class action lawsuit for medical malpractice. 

Given that each state or case has its unique statute of limitations, it is always advisable to consult an experienced personal injury attorney immediately after you discover that you have been injured due to someone else's negligence. 

While class action lawsuits have many benefits over individual lawsuits, they do not fit every situation. There are times when filing a class action lawsuit isn't a great idea. In fact, your attorney might recommend filing a claim directly with the other party or their insurance than proceeding with a lawsuit. Therefore, it is important to consult a seasoned attorney to determine the best course of action for your specific case. 

The amount you may be able to recover as compensation for your injuries usually depends on your role in the class action lawsuit. In most cases, when you're the lead plaintiff, you'll recover more damages because you're actively involved in the case. On the other hand, as a class member, you may not recover that much because you aren't as involved in the case as the lead plaintiff. 

Bear in mind that an experienced attorney can also help you maximize your claim. For example, if more than one party is responsible for your injuries, your lawyer can help pursue compensation from different avenues, ensuring you receive what you need and deserve.

Unfortunately, there's no specific date to expect your payment after a successful class action lawsuit. This is because these kinds of lawsuits have different timelines. For example, if the defense files an appeal, the case will likely take longer. This is actually one of the reasons lead plaintiffs get paid more when the other party agrees to settle; they usually spend a lot of time on the case. 

That said, you may receive your settlement within months if the other party does not file an appeal. However, if they appeal, the lawsuit could take years to settle.

When looking for the best class action lawyer to represent you or your loved one, there are certain important factors you need to consider, as discussed below. 

You need an attorney with a proven track record of winning these kinds of cases. If they don't have such a record, chances are they'll want to use your case as an experiment. 

Class action lawsuits require a lot of legal resources from the attorney's side. Since these cases could take years to settle, you need an attorney with access to powerful resources to keep fighting for their client's rights. 

The reputation of the attorney or law firm you intend to work with is also important. You need a lawyer or law firm known for handling these kinds of cases and winning them. 

If you're looking for an attorney with an excellent track record, powerful legal resources, and a great reputation, Morgan and Morgan is the injury law firm to contact. Speaking of track record, we've helped our clients recover more than $30 billion as compensation for their injuries. And in terms of resources, we are the largest personal injury law firm in the United States. Lastly, about reputation, our law firm has more than 28,000 5-star reviews on Google alone. 

Ready for a free case evaluation? Contact us today.