Social media is a great tool to stay connected, but if you have been injured in an accident and are seeking compensation, your posts on these sites could be used against you.
This is why it is better to consult a lawyer before posting anything on social media after you suffered a personal injury. The Fort worth personal injury lawyers at Anderson & Cummings understand how social media could affect your claim. We can explain what you should avoid stating on social media platforms to help protect your claim. Schedule a free consultation today.
Posts Others Can See on Social Media
You probably should not have an expectation of privacy on the Internet or social media, even if you use privacy settings to restrict the amount of information others can see.
Insurance companies and attorneys for at-fault parties may not even need to see information you put under privacy restrictions to find things that could hurt your claim. These people, or anyone else for that matter, can probably see any of the following kinds of information posted to social media:
- Public and group messages on Facebook, along with comments and wall posts
- Twitter tweets and comments
- YouTube comments and videos
- Instagram photos and remarks
- Tumblr stories and explanations
Anything someone publicly posts is available for the legal professional to potentially use against the other side. This includes anything online and within a social media platform that is not private. They can access this information without even sending a friend request.
What You Should Avoid Posting After an Accident
It is important to seek the advice of a lawyer before communicating anything about the case online or elsewhere.
Generally, there are certain things you want to avoid doing on social media while your attorney pursues your claim. For example, you should not:
- Post case details online (injury suffered, what you said after the accident, details about things that happened during the accident)
- Post updates about any injuries, such as treatment from doctors or improvements in your condition
- Posting details about physical activities such as sports or travel
If you have any doubt about whether it is a good idea to post something, simply do not do it. You should also advise family and friends to refrain from posting about the case.
Photos of the Accident or Your Injury
Pictures of the injury and the accident scene can very easily be used against the victim. Pictures of an injury from different angles may make it appear less severe than it actually is.
The other problem with sharing this information is that friends and family often share these posts, which can make these posts easier for people to find.
Photos or Posts Showing You Enjoying a Trip
Doctors often advise injury victims to refrain from strenuous activity while they recover. Posting anything that makes it seem like you are disobeying those orders can damage the case.
The defendant’s lawyer or insurance carrier may try to use these pictures to show your injuries are not as serious as you claim.
Call a Trusted Lawyer Today
After suffering a personal injury, it is vital to have a legal team you can count on. If you have a case, the experienced legal team at Anderson & Cummings is prepared to carefully investigate your accident and communicate with insurance companies on your behalf. This way you can focus on healing.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation. Our services are provided on a contingency fee basis, so there are no fees unless we recover compensation for you.
You can reach us 24/7 by calling (817) 920-9000.