Pharmaceutical and consumer product companies are formidable opponents in personal injury cases. They seem to have endless resources, which are often used to dismiss individuals who may have legitimately suffered harm.
If you’ve been hurt by a pharmaceutical drug, medical device, or other product, a Rhode Island mass tort lawyer can help you take on large companies or corporations.
At Gemma Law, we’ve been assisting injured victims and their families for more than 40 years, and we can help you too.
Call our Providence location at 401-467-2300, or contact us online for a FREE consultation.
What Does Mass Tort Mean?
Mass torts are common procedural actions used to implement corporate change or discipline on behalf of large groups of victims. In theory, Mass torts help expedite court cases and ensure victims receive fair representation.
Mass torts represent victims on a case-by-case basis and are judged individually. They’re structured this way because consumers often interact or respond to different products, which may result in distinct, adverse effects.
For example, an injury caused by a defective drug can affect individuals differently based on:
- His or her interaction with the drug
- Length of exposure; and
- Individual health factors like age, gender, and lifestyle
It’s common for mass tort cases to move in waves or follow trends. Because mass torts affect large groups of people, they’re regularly covered by popular news sources and broadcast to potential victims. This is why mass tort actions often include hundreds or thousands of victims.
Common types of mass tort cases include:
- Defective pharmaceutical drugs (Zantac)
- Defective medical devices (Defective hip replacements, mesh)
- Defective consumer products (Philips CPAP machines, Johnson & Johnson talc baby powder)
- Automotive disasters (defective airbags, brakes, etc.)
- Exposure to toxic chemicals (asbestos, lead, silica dust, etc.)
How Can a Mass Tort Help My Case?
Most consumers don’t have the resources to pursue compensation from a large company or corporation. Mass torts help victims by pooling resources.
Mass tort attorneys prepare for these cases by sharing information related to injuries and damages suffered from a singular, alleged source (a liable group, company, or manufacturer.)
The same expert testimony or scientific research can be used as evidence in multiple cases, but the cost of obtaining these resources is spread among several parties. Plaintiffs are able to pursue compensation while saving time and money.
If you’ve been seriously injured by a drug, medical device, or consumer product, your case may benefit from this unique procedural action.
Does your case qualify? Contact the mass tort lawyers at Gemma Law to find out. Call 401-467-2300, or contact us online for a FREE consultation.
Rhode Island Statute of Limitations
Eligibility is partially determined by our state’s statute of limitations—or the amount of time an injured party has to file a claim.
Rhode Island’s statute of limitations also establishes compensation limits for specific types of damages, including medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, wrongful death, personal injury, and so on.
If a claim isn’t made within the determined time limitations, the victim will not be able to collect compensation.
In Rhode Island, product liability and personal injury claims must be reported within three years of the injury. There are no damage caps in Rhode Island; however, punitive damages can be limited in certain cases.
Generally speaking, mass tort compensation may include money for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and/or loss of earning potential
- Disability
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
If you or a loved one was injured by a pharmaceutical drug, medical device, or other product, the lawyers at Gemma Law want to hear about it.
Our mass tort attorneys work on a contingent-fee basis, which means we don’t get paid until your case gets settled.
Call 401-467-2300 to schedule a FREE consultation with an experienced Rhode Island attorney, or contact us online, and we’ll contact you.
Serving the Greater Providence metro area, including Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, North Providence, South Kingston, Coventry, Cumberland, Woonsocket, and East Providence.
