Staying Off Social Media During a Personal Injury Case
These days, social media is part of most of our lives, allowing individuals across the globe to share their daily activities and thoughts, or important milestones with family, friends, and acquaintances. We post everything from pictures and videos to politically charged ideas and current life goals. While this favored pastime of oversharing is commonplace, it can be immensely detrimental if you are in the midst of a personal injury case. While social media might seem innocuous, it can provide powerful evidence against you.
HERE ARE A COUPLE OF THE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD REFRAIN FROM USING SOCIAL MEDIA UNTIL AFTER YOUR PERSONAL INJURY CASE IS RESOLVED:
- Your posts are evidence: Insurance companies are not your friend and they will fight you tooth and nail to ensure you do not receive compensation for your injuries. This means they will rummage through all of your social media accounts to find anything that might suggest you were dishonest in your claim. If you think the privacy settings on your accounts are enough to keep them out, you are wrong. There are always ways for an investigator to obtain access to your information, and everything you post is fair game as evidence. If you claim that your injuries caused you mental anguish, but are seen in smiling in tagged pictures, this might be used to argue that you are fine, regardless of whatever inner turmoil you might actually be experiencing.
- Negative posts can backfire: After being injured, you are likely to be frustrated, overwhelmed, and even upset. This is completely natural, of course, but it does not mean you should go on social media to vent about it. In fact, a defense attorney might attempt to exploit your anger and make it appear as though you are simply sue-happy and trying to get revenge and money.
The best thing you can do if you are in the middle of a personal injury case is to simply stay off social media for the time being.
HOWEVER, IF YOU PLAN TO CONTINUE TO USE IT, HERE ARE SOME TIPS:
- Keep your social media profile private. As mentioned earlier, this option is not completely secure, but it offers a marginal amount of protection.
- Do not post any pictures or videos of yourself. You do not want to provide any evidence that suggests you were unaffected by your injuries.
- Ask your friends and family not to tag you in pictures or videos, or to post pictures or videos of you.
- Never talk about your accident or answer questions about your accident or injuries on social media.
AUGUSTA PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEYS
If you or a loved one was catastrophically injured due to the negligent or careless actions of another party, the experienced personal injury attorneys at M. Austin Jackson Attorney at Law are here to help you obtain the compensation you deserve to recover and move forward. To us, you are not just another case, but a person who has suffered an extreme injury and is in need of justice, compassion, and a restored quality of life.
