Once a settlement has been arranged, the judge reviews the settlement to determine if the amount is fair and then divides the settlement among the class members. The lead plaintiff receives compensation first, and the rest is dispersed equitably to the remaining members.
Plaintiffs are usually paid by a lump sum settlement or a structured settlement. The amount you could receive depends on how many lead plaintiffs were involved, the number of injured plaintiffs, and the sum of all class members. Class members that do not have evidence of their injuries, such as a receipt for a defective product, may receive only a very small payout.
Class actions inherently make things easier by streamlining the legal process. Class action lawyers work on a contingency fee basis meaning the plaintiffs have no out-of-pocket expenses. Instead, the attorneys are paid only when a favorable verdict or settlement is reached. Furthermore, the stress of handling a lawsuit is only on the shoulders of the attorneys and the lead plaintiffs. Class members can await a judgment without having to be involved with the legal process.
A class action lawsuit provides members who have received minor injuries a way to receive some sort of compensation when an individual lawsuit wouldn't make financial sense. It provides a large group of people an avenue to hold the negligent party accountable for their actions.