Over 5 billion people use social media for an average of about 143 minutes a day. That’s a lot of scrolling and posting, and it’s easy to see why. Whether it’s catching up with friends, sharing updates about a relationship, or gawking at the endless stream of viral moments online, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have become a normal and largely harmless part of daily life. But you might want to be careful what you post if you’re in the middle of a personal injury suit.
Sure, it’s easy not to think twice about keeping social media friends plugged in—especially if you were in a car accident, suffered a workplace injury, or slipped and fell at the grocery store and have a legal case in the works.
But what feels like a routine update can unintentionally provide opposing parties with ammunition to challenge your case.
What shouldn’t you post, exactly?
Avoid These 3 Social Media Mistakes
Sharing legal information — People often sing like canaries online. While some of it is harmless, there are times when it can come back to bite you in the courtroom. For instance, perhaps you decide to post on Facebook what you and the opposing parties discussed during mediation, or strategies you and your lawyer have in place. These conversations should remain private and out of the public eye. Even seemingly innocent posts about your case can be used against you, so it’s always best to keep details off social media until your personal injury claim is fully resolved.
Anything that could incriminate you — Imagine someone claiming that they were injured in a car accident posts a video of themselves dancing at a party later that night with friends. It sounds unbelievable, but it happens more often than you might think. In an instant, their credibility can be called into question, and they could lose their case. Even posts like smiling in a photo, sharing a workout, or checking in at a restaurant can be taken out of context and used to challenge your injuries.
Talking negatively about the other party — It may feel good to rant about someone who caused you pain and suffering, especially if you know in your heart that they are 100% at fault. But you are actually hurting yourself, too. Hostile comments or public video rants about the accident or the other party can make you appear irrational or vengeful to a judge or jury.
It’s important to note that insurance companies and adjusters are very attuned to social media and how much people use it. Therefore, they make checking claimant profiles a regular habit to find anything that could allow them to gather evidence, raise doubt about your injuries, and potentially strengthen their clients’ case. Even if you delete something, there’s a chance it has already been screenshotted, saved, or retrieved by some other means.
What Should You Do Instead?
For starters, go dark. In other words, don’t post anything on social media … even if you think it is completely unrelated. Even if you have the best privacy settings on your social media accounts, you should err on the side of caution and assume everything is public and could ultimately hurt your case.
If you can’t bring yourself to avoid social media, at least do the prudent thing and check with your personal injury attorney first. Have them review what you plan to post, and proceed only if they say it is safe.
Call Keys Law Offices Today!
If you are in the middle of a personal injury suit, you must avoid social media. Your personal injury attorney will discuss these details with you so that you are set up to achieve the best possible outcome, rather than unintentionally hurting your case. At Keys Law Offices, we are dedicated to representing victims of automobile accidents and other personal injury matters. Our experienced team understands the intricate legal issues involved in these and other cases and knows how to investigate and litigate them to secure the compensation our clients deserve.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for a free consultation. Our staff is always available. Call us today!