It seems like most people live on social media nowadays. We chat, connect with distant family members, and post images of things that matter to us through our accounts. In fact, whenever something big or small happens, we tell it all online.
Sharing your life’s details is usually not a problem, unless the thing you are talking about is your personal injury claim. Tweeting or posting Instagram reels of your accident, or things you’re doing after an accident, can ruin your chances of a good insurance settlement. Learn more about how social media can influence your personal injury claim in all the wrong ways.
If any person outside your direct friend group can see your posts, pictures, reels, or chats, you have no “expectation of privacy,” as they say in court. If friends-of-friends access your page or post, then you should assume that anyone can see what you are sharing. Even “members only” sites are not private, because they can be accessed by anyone who wants to answer the moderator questions.
If an insurance claim is contested or the other party believes you were at fault, investigators could decide to review your social media sites for proof of your activities. In one case, a woman’s employer found pictures of her on vacation and used it as evidence that she was not depressed, even though her doctor had prescribed time off work for just that reason.
While it is unlikely that the other party or their attorneys will spy on you, unrestricted social media use can harm your case in other ways. Bragging about how you are going to spend your settlement will not look good to the judge when they decide on the amount of your award.
If you are in an accident, your best course of action is to avoid posting details on your social media accounts. Use private methods of communication like phone, text, or email. If you do log in, do not get into the juicy details, especially if you have commenced a legal action. Attorneys get very unhappy when their clients discuss legal matters on Facebook. So, never post any photos of the accident or the details of your legal case.
Keep your security settings as high as possible and double-check them often. Occasionally, some platforms will “reset” your settings when they upgrade the pages, and you may not realize it. Paying close attention to these advanced controls should prevent any outside parties from seeing or posting on your pages without you knowing about it.
Social media is not the place to talk about your personal injury claim. Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law is the best place to get advice about what you should do if you need help after an accident. We are the largest female-founded law firm in the country and we understand how social media can influence your personal injury claim. There is no need to delay. It is easy to connect with us now and schedule your free consultation.
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Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law
