Can one lawsuit cover a large group of people who were harmed in the same way? Yes. A class action is a case in which one or several people sue on behalf of a larger group with similar claims against the same defendant. Instead of hundreds or thousands of separate lawsuits, the court treats the group as a single "class" if certain requirements are met, such as common facts or legal issues, adequate representation, and a practical reason to handle the claims together. In Hawaii state court, class actions are governed by Hawaii Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 23.

Class actions often come up when a defective product causes similar injuries or financial losses to many people. For example, if the same medical device, household product, or drug harms consumers in a similar way, one case may be used to resolve shared issues like defect, causation, or the company's knowledge of the risk. That can lower costs and make smaller claims worth pursuing.

For an injury claim, being part of a class action can affect control, timing, and recovery. A class member may not direct the case the way an individual plaintiff would, and any settlement or judgment may be divided among many people. In some situations, a separate personal injury claim may still make more sense, especially if the injuries are severe or highly individualized.