Mass Torts Lawyer

Most personal injury lawsuits involve a dispute between two or more parties where a plaintiff seeks damages from one or more defendants who are liable for their injuries.

There are also cases when many people sustain similar injuries caused by the same person or entity, such as a plane crash, defective product, or explosion. In this scenario, a skilled injury lawyer might be able to join those cases together into a mass tort action. Let a mass torts lawyer review your claim and advise you of your options.

What Qualifies as a Mass Tort?

Tort is the name for a type of wrongdoing that can be addressed through a civil lawsuit instead of a criminal prosecution. Personal injury cases are torts, and they usually involve a case between two parties: the plaintiff and the defendant. As the name suggests, a mass tort is a case for compensation among many different plaintiffs against a single defendant.

This type of litigation is often confused with class action lawsuits. While they both involve multiple plaintiffs against a single defendant, the major difference between these options is the level of control the plaintiffs have over their cases.

With mass tort litigation, every person who files a lawsuit has autonomy. They are entitled to reach a settlement or go to trial as they see fit. Class actions are different. They involve signing up for a class of plaintiffs and leaving the case in the hands of a select few representatives to take the lead. The compensation for these cases is often lower given that there are more plaintiffs to share the funds with.

It may not be immediately clear if either of these options is right for an individual injury victim. A mass torts attorney could help with navigating this decision.

Damages in a Mass Tort Case

When these cases are successful, an injured party could recover different forms of financial compensation. These generally include the same types of damages as any personal injury lawsuit. A mass torts attorney could secure the following:

Medical Expenses

Whether it is a catastrophic injury or a debilitating illness, the cost of treating these conditions is often substantial. A person could have these expenses covered by the defendant if their injury claim is successful. This includes both past and future care, like surgical procedures, hospitalization, or physical therapy.

Lost Wages

Mass torts can lead to catastrophic injuries or illnesses that make it impossible to work. Some people eventually return to their jobs, while others are never able to rejoin the workforce. To address this sudden, unexpected loss of employment, damages may be available to replace those wages.

Pain and Suffering

Physical and emotional pain can occur with serious injuries or illnesses. While there is no simple way to measure the extent of someone’s pain, it is often possible to show a jury how it has impacted their quality of life. This can result in a monetary award based on suffering.

Call a Mass Torts Attorney Today

If you have suffered an injury due to a large-scale event like a building collapse, fire, chemical exposure, or similar incident, a mass torts lawyer can help. Reach out to GGL as soon as possible to discuss your options during a private consultation.