What to do if involved in a class action lawsuit

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A class action lawsuit occurs when a large number of people experience the same or similar harm, and file a civil lawsuit against one or several corporations. This may relate to a number of areas including medical negligence, such as the fitting of the Mirena coil by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals (see this Chicago Mirena lawyer), or products that have malfunctioned and caused significant injuries. Whatever the situation, being involved in a class action lawsuit can be confusing and stressful, and you may not know how to behave. So, what should you do? 

Listen to your lawyer

If something goes wrong in a hospital and you seek someone from the legal industry, you’ll need to listen to your lawyer to make sure they get the right outcome for you, and this is the case in class action lawsuits, too. The lawyer will be heavily involved in the case and the stakes will be high, especially if the case gets significant media attention. They will know how class action lawsuits work, and will be able to guide you through the process. 

Be discreet

If your class action lawsuit gets significant media attention, you will need to be discreet when discussing the case and make sure you don’t reveal anything to strangers. In our current climate, social media can have great influence and anything you say or do could be used against you. You may feel as though you’re always being watched – and to an extent, you are. But don’t worry. Your lawyer will guide you through the process and will make sure you know exactly what you can and can’t share online. You’ll need to have your wits about you and, if in doubt, it’s better not to post. 

Keep up to date

Whether you’re in the courtroom or not, it’s important that you keep up to date with the goings-on in your case. This means maintaining good communication with your lawyer and being available whenever necessary. You may also wish to keep up to date with media reports and the press – but remember that these can present biased views and may not be pleasant to read. However you keep in the loop is up to you, but you will need to try to understand the case as best as possible and remain focused – or else, you may find yourself not receiving the compensation you fully deserve. 

Look after yourself

Whilst long, tense courtroom dramas might be fun to watch on TV, being personally involved can be an entirely different story. You will probably find the situation stressful, exhausting and emotional, and you’ll need to make sure that you look after yourself properly. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and eating properly, and find ways to relax at the end of the day – whether this means taking a bath, watching a film or socialising with loved ones. You’ve been through an ordeal and you need to make sure your health and wellbeing are a priority. 

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