The actions or inaction of a large company can affect people on a wide scale. A defective product, an unsafe pharmaceutical drug, a poorly designed vehicle, a data breach, or unfair labor practices may impact hundreds or thousands of people across the United States. The leaders of the company that is responsible may think that they can get away with their negligent actions. After all, many individual victims are reluctant to sue a sizable company to get the justice they deserve.
Some victims may have suffered serious physical and/or financial harm, but often, people who are affected by these types of actions experience only minor consequences. Nonetheless, the overall effect on the victims as a group can be substantial.
A class action lawsuit provides an avenue for people who have been harmed to seek justice if they are intimidated by the thought of taking on a corporation alone. A class action lawsuit gives victims strength in numbers so their claims can be taken seriously and the company that wronged them can be held accountable.
If you were hurt by a company’s actions or negligence, a San Antonio class action lawsuits lawyer may be able to help you hold the business responsible and obtain compensation for your losses. Depending on the nature of your case, you may be entitled to medical expenses, lost wages, lost or reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, and more.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC is not afraid to hold powerful people and corporations accountable for their actions. Contact us today at (800)-709-1441 to speak with a member of our team.
Definition of a Class Action Lawsuit
According to the Legal Information Institute (LII) at Cornell Law School, a class action allows one or more plaintiffs to file and prosecute a lawsuit on behalf of a larger group or “class.” In other words, victims with similar experiences can band together and file a single lawsuit as a class to seek financial compensation for their losses.
One team of attorneys can work on behalf of all plaintiffs, and a handful of individuals can be selected to represent the class. The injuries they have suffered must be representative of the losses that other members of the class have experienced. Questions of law or fact must also apply to all plaintiffs. Before a case can proceed to trial, a judge must certify a class action to ensure that all the plaintiffs have similar claims. Rule 42 of the Texas Rule of Civil Procedure lays out the circumstances in which a class action may be filed and certified in the state of Texas. Contact Ben Crump Law, PLLC today to discuss the specifics of your case.
For a free legal consultation with a class action lawsuits lawyer serving San Antonio, call 800-709-1441
Reasons to File a Class Action Lawsuit
There are many reasons for plaintiffs to choose to file a class action lawsuit rather than suing individually.
Legal Fees and Compensation
If an attorney represents a client on a contingency basis, legal fees are deducted from any financial settlement. Individual victims may not want to file a lawsuit, especially if they only experienced minor harm. Legal proceedings can be time-consuming, and an individual may receive little in the way of compensation once attorney fees have been deducted.
If a plaintiff would only receive a small financial award, they may decide that it does not make sense to file a lawsuit. If numerous victims feel the same way, this can allow a company that harmed many people to go unpunished for their actions.
Filing a class action lawsuit can make more financial sense for victims because they are able to divide legal fees among themselves. This means that each person only has to pay a small share of attorney’s fees, so they get to keep more of any financial compensation while ensuring that the company is still held accountable for its actions.
Justice Delivered in a Timely and Consistent Manner
A class action lawsuit can streamline the legal process. Lawsuits often take years to make their way through the court system. If hundreds or thousands of victims make similar claims, the legal system can easily be overwhelmed, making it difficult for individuals to receive justice in a reasonable amount of time. A class action lawsuit can expedite the process so that victims can have their claims resolved relatively quickly.
A backlog of court cases can delay justice for people who are seeking to have unrelated matters addressed as well. When plaintiffs in similar circumstances file a class action lawsuit, this helps prevent the court system from becoming overburdened, allowing people with other grievances to have their cases handled at a faster rate.
If plaintiffs with similar claims file separate lawsuits, they may receive different outcomes because of individual circumstances, differences in state laws, the interpretations of different juries, and more. A class action lawsuit can provide justice for victims in a consistent way.
Warns Other Companies About Acting Negligently
In addition to holding the company that harmed people accountable, a class action lawsuit can discourage other businesses from acting in similar ways and endangering or victimizing others. A class action lawsuit often serves as a warning to other companies, especially if a large financial settlement is involved. This settlement may be a deterrent that makes other companies think twice about engaging in similar practices.
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Contact a San Antonio Class Action Lawsuits Lawyer
If you were harmed by the actions or negligence of another party, the idea of seeking justice on your own may be daunting, especially if a major corporation was responsible for the losses you suffered. A class action lawsuit can allow you to ally yourself with others who had similar experiences at the hands of the same company, and it can be a more efficient and effective way of pursuing justice than filing an individual lawsuit.
However, statutes of limitations restrict the amount of time that plaintiffs have to take legal action. In Texas, people who experience personal injuries have just two years to file a lawsuit, according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003. Conducting an investigation and filing a class action lawsuit can be a time-consuming process, so we recommend that you consult a San Antonio class action lawsuits lawyer as soon as possible.
The team at Ben Crump Law, PLLC is here to review your case and investigate to find out if others have suffered in similar ways. If so, we can work to seek justice for all of you. To get started, contact us today at (800)-709-1441 for a free consultation.
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