Have you ever been part of an automotive class action lawsuit? And felt like you were stuck in limbo waiting for the resolution? You’re not alone; class action lawsuits often take years to reach their conclusion.
But before we get into the details, let’s first answer the question of why it take years for an automotive class action to reach a resolution?
A lawsuits doesn’t automatically mean that there will be a resolution or settlement. A settlement can’t be reached unless the defendant wants to settle. In fact, it may take years of litigation before a defendant is willing to even discuss settlement.
Truth is, defendants may also decide they don’t want to settle and instead litigate the case. This means potentially years before any kind of finality in the case – especially if the defendant wins the case.
In this issue of Ask MyCarVoice, we’ll examine why it takes so long for these cases to reach a resolution.
You asked – we answered.
Navigating the Complexities of an Automotive Class Action Lawsuit
Dealing with a car manufacturer or dealership is often difficult. But if right’s were wronged and multiple people were affected, then a class action lawsuit can become necessary.
Navigating through the complexities of filing and managing an automotive class action lawsuit requires certain knowledge and skill.
Many individuals involved are unfamiliar with the particulars of this type of legal claim, so they must enlist help from a lawyer.
There sure is a lot of complexity that comes with this unique and delicate process. Automotive class action lawsuits take this to another level. If navigating automotive lawsuit complexities feels stressful, that’s because it surely is!
Before any automotive class action can be successfully pursued, a multitude of factors must come under scrutiny. For example, how widespread is the issue? How could it have been avoided? Did someone ignore potential dangers of vehicles beforehand?
These questions must all be looked at in order to have the best chance at succeeding against an automaker in court.
Truth is, automotive class action lawsuits are much more than meets the eye; in addition to the aforementioned factors. And there are a multitude of other considerations that must be taken into account, such as:
Complexity of The Case
Class action lawsuits often involve complex legal and factual issues that need to be thoroughly evaluated and researched. As one can imagine, this process can take a significant amount of time.
Large Number of Parties Involved
Class action lawsuits typically involve a large number of plaintiffs and defendants. This can lead to lengthy negotiations and delays in reaching a resolution.
Legal and Procedural Hurdles
The legal process can be slow. There are often various procedural hurdles that must be overcome before a case can be settled or a decision reached.
Appeal Process
If either side is dissatisfied with the outcome of the case, they may choose to appeal. This can further delay the resolution.
All of these factors contribute to the time it takes to resolve a class action lawsuit and can make the process take several years or even longer.
Final Thoughts: Automotive Class Action Lawsuit
All in all, dealing with automotive class action lawsuits can be a complicated and trying process. A plaintiff may file a lawsuit and think it will be satisfactorily resolved right away, but that’s usually not how it goes.
Instead, a defendant may decide they don’t want to settle and opt to litigate the case – potentially taking years before any kind of resolution.
Not only is this frustrating for the plaintiff, but it’s also costly in terms of time, energy and resources.
So, it’s clear that filing an automotive lawsuit is far from a simple process. In fact, could take years to reach resolution. That’s why they say legal matters are anything but straightforward!
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Managing Editor
Christopher is an automotive technical writer. When he’s not at the local autocross event, he can often be found working on one of his cars. Specializes in automotive class action law, industry trends, and automotive maintenance. Email me direct, or learn more about us
