Negotiating directly with Pfizer over damages suffered in a case involving Neurontin may seem like a good idea. Pfizer did admit guilt in criminal proceedings and has already paid a stiff fine. However, you should not be lulled into thinking that Pfizer is going to roll over on every little case that is out there. It is more likely that Pfizer will try to get you to settle for the smallest dollar amount possible, even if the amount doesn’t adequately address your needs and losses.
Attorneys who handle personal injury cases, including cases involving drugs like Neurontin, usually take the case on a “contingency”. This means that part of your settlement or recovery, typically 1/3, will go to the law firm as compensation for their work. It also means that if they are unable to recover any money for you, you will not owe them anything. This allows you to get excellent legal representation without having to pay a large retainer fee that you may not be able to afford. And while the percentage that the law firm retains may seem like a great deal, when you consider the amount of time, effort, and resources that go into the preparation of your case as well as the risk that the firm will not be compensated for any of it, you will see why these contingency arrangements are fair to both sides.
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Your attorney will also be able to advise you whether it would make more sense to handle your case alone or as part of a class action. Some cases have unusual fact situations or are sufficiently different from the “usual” case, and need to be handled as individual cases. However, many cases have a lot of things in common, and can be dealt with as part of a larger class action case. While it is true that most cases handled individually end up settling for more money, that is usually because there is something remarkable about the case that makes it worth more money. And, if Pfizer decides to declare bankruptcy over these cases, a class action has a better chance of getting some kind of recovery. Deciding whether to pursue a case individually or as part of a class action is an important decision and, in many cases, once you make that decision, you will be unable to change it later. Your attorney can help you decide how best to handle your case.