When a lot of people are hurt, either physically or financially and whether it happens as a result of negligence or other incidents that are somebody’s fault then collective action is a legal solution that enables you to share risks, knowledge and rewards with others who are in the same boat. You benefit from having the strength in numbers to take on even the mightiest corporations.
All you need to know about collective actions
Slater and Gordon’s experienced solicitors are here to advise you on all aspects of collective action. Call us on 0330 041 5869 or contact us and we’ll call you.
Group litigation is the legal term used in the UK to describe collective legal action brought by a group of claimants that have been affected by an occurrence in the same way, whether it be negligence, an incident or other cause. Those actions are often brought against large companies or corporations.
You may have heard these referred to as ‘class actions’, but contrary to popular belief, that term is only correct when used in the US legal system and a few other jurisdictions around the world.
If you’ve suffered losses or injury as a direct result of the behaviour of a large company - and you’re aware that many others have suffered in a similar fashion - you may be able to join or even instigate group litigation to help you pool your resources with others.
We believe that collective action is a major asset to the justice system, as without it, many people with perfectly valid complaints might be unable or unwilling to risk taking a big corporation to court.
Collective action helps to put you on a level playing field by boosting the financial resources available to help fight your corner; spreading the risk of losing across many people or organisations that are in the same situation as you.
That’s just one of the reasons that we like working with groups. Even if your case doesn’t meet the criteria that would lead to a court granting a group litigation order, we may be able to treat you as a group to help deliver the benefits of sharing risk, resources and knowledge.
There are numerous advantages to forming or joining a collective action; but the three most important are that:
Legal advice and documentation can be shared with other claimants and the cost of obtaining advice can be spread across the whole group. If each case were to be litigated individually, each individual person or organisation would need to obtain and pay for their own advice.
By coming together as a group, the risk that you might have to pay the other side’s costs can be reduced. That’s because collective action funding arrangements can be put in place to reduce costs risks, which tend to be significantly more favourable than those available to individuals.
It’s best practice for individual test cases to be selected from within the group and funded jointly by all members. This makes for the most cost-effective use of resources, yet still enables every member of the group to benefit from favourable decisions.
If you would like to talk about joining a collective action or seeking a group litigation order to help you tackle a big corporation or organisation on a level playing field, talk to one of our experienced collective action solicitors today.
I have been part of the VW group claim since it started. I have found Slater and Gordon to be excellent at communicating and explaining progress as the claim has progressed. They've been very good at explaining what are complex legal issues, and I'm confident the team is making progress in the face of what appears to be delay and obfuscation by VW. Recommended.
5* Trustpilot Review (for VW Emissions Team)
Regular updates on the VW Collective Action. Very detailed information on what has taken place and what the future timetable is. Very impressed with their professional approach which has instilled me with the confidence that I chose the right company to represent me.
5* Trustpilot Review (for VW Emissions Team)
I am happy with Slater and Gordon's progress in pursuing the VW claim. The explanations of what is happening have been easy to understand and I have been kept informed throughout this lengthy procedure.
5* Trustpilot Review
I have been part of the VW group claim since it started. I have found Slater and Gordon to be excellent at communicating and explaining progress as the claim has progressed. They've been very good at explaining what are complex legal issues, and I'm confident the team is making progress in the face of what appears to be delay and obfuscation by VW. Recommended. 5* Trustpilot Review (for VW Emissions Team)