Mass tort lawyers deal with a specific type of lawsuit. Have you recently been injured due to a drug, pharmaceutical company, or medical practice malfunction? If so, you could be entitled to seek compensation with the help of attorneys for mass tort cases.
Mass tort lawsuits are not like standard cases; therefore, it’s essential to have the right professional on your side and know what to expect. So before you jump into filing for mass tort, here’s what you need to know about mass tort lawyers and what they do.
What Is a Mass Tort Case?
When drug manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, or medical practices cause harm to a group of users through medicine or equipment, this is known as a mass tort case. Sometimes mass tort cases can start from other companies as well as long as the same cause injured a group of people. These cases are similar to class action lawsuits, but the main difference is that everyone in a mass tort case is treated individually.
Class action lawsuits tend to cover a larger group of plaintiffs, while mass tort cases typically hold people in the same geological area and are much smaller. In addition, those who file for mass torts have to prove certain facts about their case that highlight their harm and its similarity to others who have filed against the same defendant.
Responsibilities of Mass Tort Lawyers
In order to file a mass tort case, you will have to find mass tort lawyers to review your case evidence in order to determine your qualification for the mass tort lawsuit. These lawyers have a lot of responsibilities since they are representing a group of people in the same case though they are representing these individuals individually during the trial.
A mass tort lawyer will gather your evidence, such as medical records, medical bills, other expenses, and anything else that lines up with your case. Sometimes in a trial, a mass tort lawyer will need to bring up information from other plaintiffs to support the current case as further proof of injuries plaintiffs sustained from the defendant, but specific information about each plaintiff is not disclosed in court.
Another big element of hiring a mass tort lawyer is to consult with them about how much in damages you’re seeking to recover in damages. It’s not uncommon to lose a lot of money and enjoyment of life when dealing with situations that mass tort cases cover, so you should disclose this information to your attorney.
Your attorney will look over all expenses and consult with you to develop a plan to seek out compensation that is fair and fit for your situation. Not every plaintiff in a mass tort case receives the same in damages due to the extent of their losses and other factors. Nevertheless, it’s important to talk to your attorney about your hopes so they can adequately fight to get you the settlement you deserve.
How Do Mass Tort Cases Work?
Mass tort and class action lawsuits start with one plaintiff filing the initial complaint. Once it’s been deemed that there could be other victims of the same issue, possible plaintiffs are contacted to inform them of the possible lawsuit, which can be a lengthy process.
Mass tort cases can take a few years to settle since plaintiffs have to be found and deemed certified to fit the case. Once the plaintiffs have come forward and filed their lawsuits, a trial begins for each case. This is another reason why these cases can take a long time.
How to Win a Mass Tort Case
Most mass tort cases end in a settlement from the defendant and is dispersed amongst the plaintiffs to their own percentages. For example, a pharmaceutical company can pay a total settlement of $5 million dollars and one plaintiff receives $10,000 of that settlement per their own damages.
Lawyers are also paid from the settlement, likely per their set contingency fee. If your attorney agrees to a contingency fee, this means they will receive a certain percentage–that you agreed to in your initial consultation–which is typically anywhere from 33%-40%.
If you are awarded $10,000 from your settlement, and your attorney has a contingency fee of 33%, then you will owe them $3,300 for their work on your case.
Damages to Recover in Mass Tort Cases
It is possible to lose a lot more than money from the mass tort defendant. Here are some damages you can talk to your mass tort lawsuit attorney about recovering:
- Loss of income
- On-going medical care
- Disability/dismemberment
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and physical anguish
- Future medical expenses
- Physical therapy
- More
Finding Your Mass Tort Lawyers
Are you needing the expertise of attorneys for mass tort cases? The first step to seeing if you have a case is to look for the right lawyer in your area.
There are firms in your area that likely have mass tort practices, or you can work with a nationwide mass tort lawsuit attorney. The key to finding the right lawyer is to look thoroughly at each firm’s practice areas and reviews to judge how successful previous cases have been.
Since mass tort cases are going up against strong, powerful companies and entities, your attorney should have experience fighting against similar corporations. These businesses have their own high-quality attorneys on their side to help protect the company and limit the amount of money they have to pay victims and the bad press that comes their way from the media.
Law firms typically have free consultations, so take advantage of these and ask all the questions you need to find the right attorney for you.
Speak to an Experienced Mass Tort Lawyer Today
If you have questions about your case and would like to know if you qualify for mass tort, contact the mass tort lawsuit attorneys at Class Action Coalition. We have attorneys that handle mass tort cases nationwide and can review your evidence to give you advice on what to do next.
You can start by calling us at (855) 938-0980 to schedule a free consultation.
