If you have suffered injuries because a large company or corporation acted negligently, you could initiate or join in a class-action lawsuit. This can allow you to recover compensation for losses or damages incurred.
Speaking to a San Francisco class-action lawsuits lawyer can help you consider your options when it comes to class-action lawsuits. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, today for a free case review at 800-959-1444.
Class Action Lawsuits
In a class action, a lead plaintiff usually files a lawsuit on behalf of all members of the group against a defendant, usually a corporation or company. State and federal laws, such as the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 23 and California Code CCP § 382, lay out the legal framework for this kind of lawsuit.
If a claim is successful, generally, all plaintiffs will receive the same settlement amount, regardless of the extent of their injuries and damages. This can be advantageous if you have suffered only minor damages or injury, and an individual lawsuit would not be a good option for you.
The Lead Plaintiff
In general, class action lawsuits have a class representative, also called the “lead plaintiff.” The lead plaintiff is usually the person who initiates the class action. They must have suffered the same types of injuries and damages as the other plaintiffs. A lead plaintiff can have several responsibilities, such as:
- Hiring an attorney
- Filing the lawsuit
- Attending court proceedings
- Deciding on a settlement
- Representing the class
Since the lead plaintiff makes a significant time commitment, they may receive a higher settlement than other members involved. You might be eligible to initiate a class action lawsuit and become a lead plaintiff. A San Francisco class-action lawsuits lawyer can guide you through that process and answer questions you may have.
For a free legal consultation with a class action lawyer serving San Francisco, call 800-709-1441
Examples of Class Action Lawsuits
There is a wide variety of class-action lawsuits, but they typically revolve around a company’s negligence. Some types of class action lawsuits include:
Product Liability
When a group of people suffers the same type of injuries due to a faulty product, such as an appliance, car, toy, or another device, they can file a class-action lawsuit to recover damages. There could be several liable parties in product liability cases. This type of case typically involves a manufacturing defect, design defect, or a company’s failure to warn of potential dangers.
Environmental Pollution
Environmental toxins and pollution can cause injuries and property damage among a large group of people. Sometimes, the effects of toxins and pollution are noticed only years later due to a cluster of cancer cases or birth defects, for example. In a class-action lawsuit, plaintiffs affected by environmental toxins and pollution of water, air, and soil, can come together and hold a company accountable for their damages.
Civil Rights Violations
A class-action lawsuit is one way to hold a company or government entity to account for systemic discrimination and civil rights violations.
Employment
There can be a variety of employment-related class action lawsuits, which include disputes over wages, conditions, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other matters than potentially violate state and federal laws. Sometimes, exposure to toxic substances at work, such as asbestos, is also subject to a class-action lawsuit.
Dangerous Drugs
Dangerous drugs and medical devices are what perhaps most of us associate with high-profile class actions. Defective drug lawsuits typically involve a large group of plaintiffs who were hurt in a similar way by a defective drug or a failure to warn of specific side effects. The plaintiffs usually have all suffered detrimental health consequences from a faulty drug.
Other instances of class action lawsuits include, for example, false advertising, consumer fraud, and financial fraud, as well as many others.
If you have suffered any type of harm, whether to your health or finances, through the actions of a corporation or other entity, and are weighing whether to pursue legal action, you can call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, and set up an appointment for a free consultation.
During your meeting, you can discuss your options with a San Francisco class-action lawsuits lawyer. A lawyer can assess your case comprehensively and help determine whether you could file or join a class-action lawsuit.
San Francisco Class Action Lawyer Near Me 800-709-1441
The Benefits of Class Action Lawsuits
A class-action lawsuit can be advantageous for you if it is unlikely that you would recover any damages in an individual lawsuit. The strengths in numbers of claimants in a class-action lawsuit can exert a great deal of pressure on a company. It can also create unwanted negative publicity, motivating a company to settle a lawsuit sooner rather than later.
Another advantage of a class action is that you could recover compensation without the stresses and risks of filing an individual lawsuit. You just wait for the outcome of your case as the lead plaintiff and attorney battle for the rights and compensation of the entire class.
However, if you have suffered serious and debilitating injuries as well as considerable financial consequences because of a company’s negligent actions, an individual personal injury case might be an option for you. A settlement from a class-action lawsuit does not take your individual damages into account.
There are important considerations to weigh when thinking of holding a company accountable for negligence. Discussing your case in depth with a San Francisco class-action lawsuits lawyer can help you decide on the course of action to take.
Click to contact our San Francisco Personal Injury Lawyers today
Ben Crump Law, PLLC, Can Fight for Your Rights
We stand up to big corporations and fight for your rights to justice and compensation. In a class-action lawsuit, there are no upfront costs for you or the other plaintiffs as we work on a contingency-fee-basis. The law firm takes its fee from the settlement we win for you.
You might want to act quickly, as there could be deadlines for filing class-action lawsuits. Class actions can also require a great deal of research and lengthy litigation. The sooner you act, the sooner you could initiate or join a lawsuit, hold a negligent company accountable, and potentially recover a settlement.
We can be by your side and help you with a class-action lawsuit. Call Ben Crump Law, PLLC, now at 800-959-1444 to find out how we can help win justice for you.
Call or text 800-709-1441 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
