What is a Class Action Lawsuit?

Class action lawsuits are suits filed on behalf of a class of plaintiffs, all of whom have been wronged by the same defendant. For instance, a personal injury class action lawsuit could involve a group of plaintiffs, also known as a “class,” who had all been injured by purchasing the same defective product from a manufacturer.

An example of this is a group of parents whose children who have been injured by a shoddily made type of toy or car seat, or a group of automobile owners who have all gotten into accidents because their cars came with flawed tires. Class action personal injury suits are almost always filed by a personal injury attorney or a group of attorneys on behalf of the class.

Most often a personal injury attorney will file the suit in state court, unless the wrongful action being fought is a violation of federal law or else the plaintiffs and the defendant are located in different states.

Many personal injury lawsuits that are filed as class action suits are the result of faulty manufacturing or insufficient safety testing by a company. Other big personal injury class action suits involve medical malpractice, negligence of healthcare facilities, dangerous public facilities and exposure to hazardous materials.

Many workers also ban together and hire a personal injury attorney to file a class action law suit against their employer. This happens with some frequency in professions where employees are regularly exposed to dangerous working conditions, such as in manufacturing, mining, construction and public works.

If you have been injured recently as a result of negligence, faulty manufacturing, unsafe working conditions or any other situation that you think may have affected other people besides yourself, the first thing you should do is consult with a personal injury attorney. A personal injury attorney will make sure that you are within the statute of limitations and have a viable case.

He or she can then help you determine whether it is wise to gather other plaintiffs and file a class action suit. Sometimes class action suits are a very effective and productive way to go to court, as plaintiffs can split legal fees and spend less time on the case. However, there are also many disadvantages to class action suits. Your personal injury attorney can help you weigh the decision.