What Is A Class-Action Lawsuit?
If other people suffered a similar injury to you, multiple people could form a “class” to sue the defendant for damages. Typically, class-action lawsuits are initiated to sue manufacturers with defective products that injure people, employers with poor work conditions, low wages, or unfair business practices.
Class-action lawsuits allow the courts to rule on similar cases in one setting. As a result, they can potentially help victims win more damages if the defendant is nervous about how many people are claiming wrongdoing against them and wants to settle quickly.
A “class” of plaintiffs can range from as few as a dozen people to as many as hundreds of plaintiffs. A class-action lawsuit benefits plaintiffs who wish to remain out of the spotlight because generally, only one or two plaintiffs need to be the “face” of the case.
How Do You Form A Class-Action Personal Injury Lawsuit In North Carolina?
In class-action suits, one law firm will represent the entire class and oversee the legal strategy.
In order for the lawsuit to proceed, the class must be certified by the courts. In addition, the law firm representing the class must prove there are so many plaintiffs it would be impractical for the court to hear each case individually, that the same question of law is present in each injury case, and that the plaintiffs who are the face of the case truly represent the entire class.
Every person who qualifies as part of the class must be notified and given the option to opt out of the lawsuit.
If you’ve been injured and want to bring a class-action suit, call the law offices at Hyland, Padilla, & Fowler right away.
What Should I Do If I’ve Suffered A Personal Injury?
If you’re unfortunately one of the early people to realize a company is committing wrongdoing and leading to personal injuries, reach out to Hyland, Padilla, & Fowler right away. North Carolina sets a three-year statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits, so it’s imperative to reach out right away.
Hyland, Padilla, & Fowler offers free evaluations to discuss your case and explain what we can do.
When you suffer a personal injury, there’s a chance a class action lawsuit already exists against the party that wronged you. Hyland, Padilla, & Fowler can help you decide if it’s in your best interest to stay in the class or opt-out spotlight.