When you are involved in a personal injury case, it is important to be mindful of the information you share on social media. Anything you post online can be used against you in court, so it is crucial to be careful about what you say and how you present yourself. Insurance companies and defense attorneys often search social media profiles for evidence that can be used to discredit your claim. Insurance companies go as far as having specific employees whose sole job is to crawl social media sites to see what information they can come up with about you that will help them decrease claim value.
You may have good intentions thinking that you can update your friends and family in a simple post, but whatever you say could damage your personal injury claim. Anything you say can be used against you. Even the most innocent post stating you were involved in an accident can backfire on you. It is best practice to avoid posting about the accident on social media.
For example, if you claim that your injuries prevent you from participating in physical activities, but then post pictures of yourself playing sports, it could be used to argue that you are not as injured as you claim. If you were to claim you have neck pain, and then post photos at an amusement park, that would show that you likely aren’t as injured as you claim and would be used against you. Similarly, if you post comments or status updates about the accident or your injuries, they could be used to contradict your testimony in court. It is best to avoid discussing the case or your injuries online altogether. It is also important to be aware of the privacy settings on your social media profiles. Even if you have set your profile to private, anything you share with your friends can still be used against you in court if your friends are subpoenaed.
In summary, social media can have a significant impact on the outcome of your personal injury case. To protect yourself, it is best to avoid discussing the case or your injuries online and to be mindful of the information you share on social media. If you have any questions about how social media may affect your case, it is best to consult with a personal injury lawyer.
If you or someone you know was involved in a recent personal injury incident, whether it was a car accident, bicycle accident, motorcycle accident, or even a slip and fall incident give the attorneys at Tabor Law Firm a call to discuss your potential claim. We offer FREE CONSULTATIONS, and you can always speak with an attorney. Call us at (317) 236-9000 to schedule your free consultation TODAY!
