Mass tort lawsuits are civil actions brought against an individual or institution that caused harm to a large number of people. These lawsuits are most often filed against corporations for actions that endanger employees or the public.
If you have suffered damages, along with many others, the Morelli Law Firm is on your side. Our team of experienced mass torts lawyers in Philadelphia can help get you the compensation you need and deserve.
What Are Mass Tort Lawsuits?
A tort is an action that causes harm. This harm can result either from negligence or an intentional act by the at-fault party. A mass tort is a tort that affects a large number of people. When a single action or inaction causes harm to several people, the victims may choose to pursue legal action against the liable party.
When multiple plaintiffs pool their evidence together while pursuing individual compensation against the responsible party, it is known as a mass tort lawsuit. A mass tort lawyer in Philadelphia will represent this group of people working together to strengthen their cases as they retain their individual rights to recover compensation.
How a Mass Tort Lawsuit Differs From a Class Action
Unlike in a mass tort lawsuit, where the plaintiffs share evidence while pursuing individual lawsuits against the plaintiff, in a class-action lawsuit, the plaintiffs are filing a single legal action against the liable party.
Instead of several individual payouts, a class action lawsuit will result in a single large payout, with the compensation being divided between all the plaintiffs.
Filing a Mass Tort Lawsuit
When dealing with a tort that affects many people, the plaintiffs will come together to make the decision of whether they would prefer to file a mass tort lawsuit or a class-action lawsuit. Even if the majority of those injured decide they would prefer to go forward with a class-action case, you have the option of opting out and pursuing your own lawsuit.
Pursuing an individual suit after an event that results in a class-action lawsuit may be the best choice for you if you suffered significantly greater damages than the majority of participants in the class action. If you choose not to opt-out, you will be bound by the ruling of the class action and have no further options for recovering compensation.
Compensation You Can Recover in a Mass Tort Lawsuit
The compensation you will be eligible to receive for your class action lawsuit is the same as the damages available in any personal injury lawsuit. The only difference between a personal injury lawsuit and a mass tort lawsuit regarding compensation is that it may take longer to get the money to which you are entitled since the liable party is dealing with multiple lawsuits.
The compensation you can receive can be divided into three categories:
- Economic damages
- Non-economic damages
- Punitive damages
Economic Damages
These are the losses you suffered as a result of your injuries that had a direct impact on your finances. Economic damages cover any money you had to spend as a result of your accident, as well as any income you lost. These damages can be both current and future losses. Common economic damages include:
- Lost wages
- Lost earning ability
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses
- Property damage
Non-Economic Damages
These are the losses that are harder to quantify. Non-economic damages are often profound losses and can never be fully recovered. Because of this, the amount awarded for these damages is typically substantial. Common non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Loss of consortium
- Diminished quality of life
- Mental anguish
Punitive Damages
These damages are only awarded in cases where the actions of the liable party were deemed to have been criminally negligent or carried out with the intent to commit harm. They are not designed to repay the victims for losses they suffered but rather to punish the at-fault party.
The Statute of Limitations for Filing a Mass Tort Lawsuit in Pennsylvania
Like with the damages you can recover, the amount of time you have to file a mass tort lawsuit is also in line with filing a standard personal injury lawsuit. In Pennsylvania, this will give you two years from the date of your injury to file a mass tort lawsuit in most cases.
However, it is possible that this time limit could shrink or grow depending on the specifics of your case. The best way to ensure that all deadlines are met and that you don’t miss out on your chance to recover compensation is to contact a mass torts attorney in Philadelphia as soon as possible after your injury.
The sooner your attorney can get started, the better positioned they will be to gather evidence and find more plaintiffs to join your mass tort lawsuit.
The Mass Tort Process
Personal injury lawsuits can be complicated enough when there is only one plaintiff. When many victims are involved, it is more important than ever to get help from a legal professional. A mass tort attorney can help you and the other accident victims decide whether to pursue a class action lawsuit or a mass tort.
Your mass tort lawyer will be able to help in a variety of ways throughout the process, including:
- Gathering evidence and speaking with witnesses
- Organizing all the evidence so that it can be used most effectively in each plaintiff’s case
- Negotiating with the liable party to attempt to reach a fair settlement
Talk to a Lawyer About Your Mass Tort Case
At the Morelli Law Firm, we have plenty of experience dealing with mass tort cases. We can explain all your options and advise you on how best to pursue compensation against the liable party.
Our team of Philadelphia mass torts lawyers can walk you through every step of the process and make sure you are prepared to fight your case. Give us a call today or fill out our online contact form to get started with a free case evaluation.
