A mass torts lawyer helps people who have suffered similar injuries as the result of a single defendant’s negligence to pursue their cases in court. Our firm represents injured clients as they seek the compensation that they deserve, especially in cases involving unintended side effects from prescription drugs.
If you’ve been injured in Lafayette and you believe you may be eligible to join a mass torts case, one of our mass torts lawyers can offer guidance and support. We want to help you make the most of your settlement. Our team can investigate your case, determine liability, and pursue a settlement or take your case to trial if necessary. We are not afraid to go after the big corporations.
How Does a Mass Tort Case Work?
At some point during your life, you may suffer an injury due to another person’s actions. While this can be the result of an intentional act, such as an assault or kidnapping, most tort cases arise from accidents. However, just because a person does not mean to cause harm to another does not mean that they are not legally liable.
Though mass torts involve multiple cases against the same defendant, plaintiffs and their lawyers typically proceed on an individual basis. For example, if several people suffer injuries from taking the same medication, they could file separate lawsuits against the manufacturer. Their cases would be presented together during pretrial hearings, but the trials and compensation awards would remain separate.
This approach enables victims to seek financial recovery based on their specific injuries, rather than sharing the settlement or court award with other claimants.
For a free legal consultation with a mass torts lawyer serving Lafayette, call (337) 777-7777
What Types of Damages Can I Recover in a Mass Tort Case?
It’s important to keep in mind that mass tort cases treat each plaintiff separately, as opposed to class-action lawsuits, which group victims and their damages together. This means the court will distribute the compensation according to each plaintiff’s individual damages and losses. Your damages may include:
- Past and future medical expenses – (e.g., any hospitalizations, surgeries, rehabilitation, assistive medical devices, prescription medicines that resulted from your injuries)
- Loss of income – (e.g., lost wages and any bonuses or promotions you missed due to having to attend doctor’s appointments, physical therapy sessions, etc.)
- Diminished work capacity – (e.g., if your accident-related injuries now prevent you from performing your current job duties and you have to take a lower-paying job or quit working altogether)
- Pain and suffering – (e.g., you now experience chronic pain from the incident that prevents you from doing household chores, cooking dinner for your family, etc.)
- Scarring or disfigurement – (e.g., your injuries due to the at-fault party’s negligence permanently altered your appearance or left you disabled)
- Loss of enjoyment of life – (e.g., you can no longer enjoy activities you did before the accident, such as jogging, gardening, or playing with your children)
A mass torts lawyer from Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can analyze your case in Lafayette and calculate the full value of your damages. We leave no stone unturned in seeking the full and fair amount you deserve.
Lafayette Mass Torts Lawyer Near Me (337) 777-7777
What Kind of Mass Tort Lawsuits Can I Join?
There are currently several types of mass tort lawsuits plaintiffs are joining. If you have suffered an injury as the result of any of these complications, you may want to consider reaching out to our office serving Lafayette.
- Hernia Mesh– Approximately one million hernia repair surgeries are completed each year in the United States, according to the S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Unfortunately, chronic pain after the procedure happens in a significant number of patients.
- Hip Replacement– While millions of Americans have benefited from this surgery and were given a new lease on life, others have developed serious problems as a result, such as pain and mobility issues.
- IVC Filters– Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are small medical devices used for patients at high risk of experiencing an arterial blockage in the lungs or a pulmonary embolism. When these filters are defective, they can perforate the inferior vena cava.
- Mesothelioma– According to a 2017 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), thousands of people pass away from malignant mesothelioma each year. Often, the cause was asbestos exposure on the job.
- NAS– Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) refers to a series of medical complications that occur when a mother uses prescription drugs during her pregnancy. Many parents are holding the drug manufacturers responsible.
- Roundup– The product known as Roundup, created by the Monsanto corporation, is one of the most common pesticides used in the United States. It is also linked to causing certain cancers in humans, and the manufacturers are being held responsible.
- Surgical Stapler– According to the FDA, hundreds of thousands of people have been injured by surgical staples in the last decade. Surgeons rely on surgical staples to seal incision sites after surgery.
- Talcum Powder– Talcum powder has long been associated with infant care, and many people use it to stay dry and fresh. However, this powder contains the dangerous ingredient talc, which has been linked to deadly mesothelioma, per medical journals like the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health.
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Why You Should Have Our Firm Handle Your Mass Tort Case
The team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers has 100 years of combined experience handling personal injury cases. We fight for our clients in and out of court, winning millions of dollars in cash settlements. Here are a few examples of settlements we have won for our past clients:
- $10,400,000 – Loss of revenue
- $3,816,421 – Negligent operation of a medical van
- $500,000 – Death resulting from medical negligence
- $400,000 – Surgeon who left guide wire in the patient
- $180,000 – Defective tire causes one car accident and neck injury
When you hire our firm to handle your mass tort case, we will fight to recover damages for your injuries while you recover.
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Why Should I Join a Mass Tort Lawsuit in Lafayette?
Mass torts carry several significant advantages, depending on the circumstances. The mass tort attorney we assign to your case can tell you if your claim is a good fit for a mass tort. One of the main benefits is that mass torts allow victims to pool their resources.
Oftentimes, a mass tort case is filed against large corporations, such as pharmaceutical manufacturers or oil companies. These companies may have engaged in behavior that injured thousands of people, but each in their own distinct way. A mass tort allows these victims to stand up to negligent companies as a group, rather than facing them alone.
What Is the Difference Between Mass Torts and Class Actions?
Class action lawsuits and mass torts are very similar, as they both involve multiple plaintiffs and a single defendant, as well as a common act that led to an injury. However, there are key distinctions that people need to be made aware of.
Mass Torts Keep Your Case Separate
The most important distinction is that mass torts keep all the plaintiffs’ cases separate. Therefore, if one person has a unique set of circumstances that led to them filing a suit, a mass tort case could give them a better chance at recovering compensation to address their unique damages. Conversely, a class action uses a single representative plaintiff to speak for all the claimants.
Mass Torts Do Not Require Identical Fact Patterns
Class actions require all plaintiffs to have identical fact patterns and injuries that lump them into a class. For example, all people who were fired by a corporation because of their gender may file a class action suit since they had the same injuries.
These criteria must fit the requirements provided in Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Legal Information Institute (LII). By contrast, mass torts allow people to maintain their individuality while banding together to pool resources. This can apply to both the compensation they seek and the circumstances that led to them filing suit.
Get Help from Our Firm’s Mass Torts Attorney Today
If you are one of many injured by the actions of a corporation, you do not need to face that company alone. When the actions of a company have injured many people, these plaintiffs may group together to file a mass tort, allowing them to confront large corporations from a position of collective strength.
A mass torts lawyer from our firm serving Lafayette could help you initiate this process or join in on an existing one. Our team at Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers can work to discover the evidence that supports your case and file the necessary documentation to seek your damages. Contact a team member today by calling (337) 777-7777 for more information in a free initial consultation.
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