The benefits of class actions include:
A reduction in the burden on the U.S. court system if hundreds or even thousands of cases were filed over similar complaints against the same defendants.
There is power in numbers. Members of the class present a stronger case simply due to the volume of claims and the participation of the attorneys involved.
Everyone receives a settlement if the class wins the case.
Some of the downsides of a class action include:
Less control of how the case is handled or the settlement that is reached.
Class actions take a long time to resolve, meaning you will be waiting for your settlement for months or even years.
Each participant receives the same amount of the settlement, meaning that you may have to agree to an amount far lower than the value of your case.