Having the right attorney on your side when involved in a class action lawsuit is important. Learn more about our class action lawyers and how these lawsuits work.
A class action is a lawsuit that allows people with similar legal claims to bring one action against the same defendant. In other words, class action lawsuits allow people to pursue a lawsuit as a group, when they may not otherwise be able to afford to do so individually. Such lawsuits can be a powerful tool to force large companies to be held accountable for wrongdoing. They are also cost-effective and increase judicial efficiency, because they bring together several plaintiffs in one case. Whether you have been injured by a pharmaceutical product or another consumer product, we have experience handling such claims on a class action basis. Contact our knowledgeable attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center as soon as possible.
Filing a Class Action Lawsuit
In order for a group of victims to file a class action lawsuit against an automobile manufacturing company for a faulty product, a physician suspected of medical malpractice, or a drug company responsible for producing a potentially dangerous drug, there are a number of factors that must be considered first. First, the class must be large enough to make individual lawsuits impractical. Second, there must be common claims among class members, such as similar side effects suffered by consumers of the same pharmaceutical drug. Finally, the claims must be typical of the plaintiffs and the legal representatives must protect the interests of the class members. Once a class action lawsuit is in effect, a notice of the action is sent to potential class members, who may then decide whether or not to opt out of the class action to pursue their own individual litigation. If a settlement is proposed, a settlement notice is delivered to all members of the certified class, notifying them of the details of the settlement.
Goals of Class Action Lawsuits
The main goal of a class action lawsuit is to help injured victims collect the financial compensation they deserve for the injuries they have sustained, as well as the medical expenses associated with injury treatment, and the pain and suffering endured by the victims and their families. Too often, victims are taken advantage of during their time of need, after they have suffered injuries caused by an automobile accident, as a result of taking a dangerous medication, or after an assault or dog bite. Unfortunately, some big businesses and insurance companies intentionally manipulate injured victims, sometimes offering them a settlement far below what they are entitled to, or even taking steps to ensure they receive no settlement at all. By filing or joining a class action lawsuit against the allegedly negligent party in your case, victims of serious injuries or the families of wrongful death victims can work together to effectively present their case and seek fair and timely financial reimbursement.
Benefits of Filing A Class Action Lawsuit
The most substantial benefit of filing a class action lawsuit is the opportunity to present to the court a large group of people who have suffered similar harm allegedly caused by the same defendant, product, medication, et cetera. In this sense, class action lawsuits typically have a much greater impact on the judge and court members presiding over the case, as opposed to individual victims filing separate personal injury lawsuits. In addition, it is considerably more difficult for individual victims to prove their injuries were caused by medical malpractice, a defective product, or dangerous drug, as compared to a large class of injured individuals making the same claim. For these reasons, the court may be more sympathetic to a class over an individual, and class action lawsuits against defendants may be more likely to reach a settlement outside of court.
Attorneys for Class Action Lawsuits
Seeking financial compensation through legal means can be a complicated process. Whether filing an individual personal injury lawsuit or taking part in a class action lawsuit, it is imperative that plaintiffs enlist the help of a qualified attorney. Our skilled lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center are experienced in handling claims on a class action basis, and can help injured victims collect the reimbursement they are entitled to. In addition to helping victims seek financial compensation, class action lawsuits also help bring public attention to potentially dangerous medications, faulty products, and other serious issues like nursing home abuse, denied Social Security Disability claims, and workers’ compensation claims. With the help of an experienced attorney, injured victims can hold powerful companies accountable for their alleged wrongdoing and protect themselves and their families from further harm.