A class action lawsuit is an easier, quicker, and less expensive way for defendant companies, persons, etc. to deal with large numbers of people who claim that they have been injured. The courts often prefer class action lawsuits because they help prevent inconsistent outcomes resulting from several individual lawsuits litigating the same issues.
The benefits of other plaintiffs joining in a class action lawsuit are that the damages awarded are higher (because of injuries to multiple parties), the expenses per plaintiff are often much less, and a competent, high quality attorney is usually more willing to take the case.
There are times when it is best to opt out, and there are times when it is more appropriate to stay in the class. Before jumping into a decision to sue, not to sue, to join a class action, to form a class action, etc., having a class action attorney evaluate one’s situation can be very advantageous. Most attorneys will advise you to check into your claim sooner rather than later. Each type of legal claim has a statute of limitations on it, which precludes legal action after a certain period of time.