Reasons to Avoid Social Media During a Personal Injury Case

Social media is no longer the rare oddity it once was when it first emerged on the internet. Nowadays, this form of communication and sharing is everywhere, from Instagram to Facebook – it is an almost inescapable feature of modern society. People are able to share their days as they unfold, promote their businesses, and get down and personal with the details of life in ways that were previously not possible on such a large scale. Unfortunately, if you are in the midst of a personal injury lawsuit, sharing personal stories on social media can get you into trouble and jeopardize your chances at obtaining adequate compensation.

Social Media is Evidence

The existence of social media provides a window into the lives of others in ways that did not exist in the past, and attorneys and private investigators are using it to their advantage. Whatever you choose to post and share on social media can be used against you in a court of law. Keep in mind that the at-fault party’s insurance company will do everything possible to either pay you as little as possible or nothing at all for your injuries. They will look through your social media account to find proof of anything that might suggest you are exaggerating the severity of your injuries. If you are suing a person or product for injuries sustained, play it safe and stay off social media.

Social Media Can Disprove Claims

Many of us post pictures on social media. A picture can say a lot, however. For example, if you were involved in an accident that rendered you unable to return to work and you became depressed, a major aspect of your case would also be pain and suffering, which can sometimes result in greater compensation than the economic damages one suffers. If you were tagged in a Facebook photo at a birthday party smiling and appearing to enjoy yourself, this can harm your case and weaken your emotional distress claim. Just because you are smiling at a birthday party does not mean you are not depressed or suffering, but an attorney will still be able to use against you, regardless of how misleading it might be.

Make sure to ask your friends and family not to post any pictures of you or tag you in any posts. Some social media platforms, such as Facebook, allow you to prevent others from tagging you in photos, so be sure to make the necessary adjustments to protect yourself.

Stay Off Social Media

Ultimately, the best thing you can do for yourself and your case is to stay off social media until your personal injury case reaches a resolution. It is simply not a risk worth taking when so much is at stake.

If you absolutely cannot stay off social media, you can still take some precautions to protect yourself:

Check the privacy settings on all of your social media accounts and ensure they are set to the highest level of privacy.
Be careful when it comes to uploading photos. Ask yourself if you would want a judge to see a photo before you post it. If the answer is no, then do not post it.
Never accept friend requests from strangers.
Refrain from joining groups that revolve around subjects that might compromise your claim. If you broke your leg, but decide to join a runners group on Facebook, this might hurt your case.

Pocatello Personal Injury Attorney

At May Rammell & Thompson, we understand the pain, emotional suffering, and confusion that accompany any kind of accident, especially if it was caused by someone else’s negligence. Our skilled team of Pocatello personal injury attorneys represent clients in filing claims against at-fault parties and are known for our dedication and compassion.

Our firm is backed by over 70 years of combined experience and a proven track record of success, giving you the assurance you need to rely on us to effectively represent your case. We dedicate ourselves to achieving a positive outcome and a full recovery for our clients’ cases.