Most individuals in today's digital world commonly use some form of social media. It enables them to connect with friends and family and quickly share information about themselves with large groups of people.
However, social media can be a problem for accident victims with pending personal injury claims. These individuals must be cautious about what they post on social media. It is likely that the defense attorneys on your case will use your postings against you.
Social Media Used Against You
It is easy to say something online that puts the facts of your case in doubt. For instance, you may be going through a personal injury case that resulted in a broken arm and emotional injuries. However, you wind up tagged in a photo that shows you on a hike with friends, seemingly happy and active.
If this is used in court, it may cause the jury or judge to question the severity of your injuries and the legitimacy of your request for compensation. Remember that one innocent mistake can have serious consequences.
When it comes to social media usage, it’s recommended that those with pending personal injury cases avoid:
- Posting anything about your case
- Posting photos of your injuries
- Posting photos of you doing activities
- “Checking in” to locations on Facebook
You can let friends and family members know not to post any photos, videos, or updates of you during this time. If they happen to do this without letting you know beforehand, you can set up approval settings that let you decline the tag so that it doesn’t show up on your page.
Admissible in Court
Many accident victims may not understand that anything they post online can be used as evidence in court. Their posts on social media could be identified as statements. This would make an accident victim's social media posts admissible in court.
Statements made by an accident victim's friends and family on social media, such as comments or posts that you are tagged in, may also be admissible in their court case. These can be used to show contradictions in your actual personal injury claim and make it more difficult to obtain compensation for your injuries.
Friends Only
Some accident victims believe they are protected if they make their social media pages for friends only. However, social media may not be as private as you think. The opposing side of your case will do everything they can to obtain the information they want to disprove your claim. Because of this, avoid posting anything related to your case, even if your account is set to private.
Seek Legal Assistance
We understand that an injury can leave you feeling alone and wanting to share your experience with friends and family members online. The personal injury attorneys at Foley Griffin are here to provide you with advice on how to handle social media during their case.
If you have any questions regarding your case, don’t hesitate to reach out to our firm for legal assistance.
Contact our firm at (888) 966-8480 to schedule your free case review.