Social media can be a great platform to express yourself and share details of your life with family and friends. However, if you have just been injured in an accident and are actively pursuing compensation for damages, you may want to be careful with what you post on your social accounts.
Below, the South Bend personal injury attorneys of Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak discuss what not to do on social media to protect your personal injury claim. For assistance with this and the many other aspects of your claim, please contact us to schedule a free, no obligation consultation today. There is no risk to contact us because you will not be billed for our services unless you are compensated first.
No Photos or Details of Accident
Social media is a place where we typically share major details of our lives. For some, this may include involvement in an accident and any injuries you may have sustained. In the best interest of your claim, you should not post any accident photos on social media or share details about the incident you were involved in.
Anything you post to social media publicly is considered public record. This means that your posts and photos may be used as evidence. Your posts may contain opinions or speculations that deviate from the facts turned up by an accident investigation – the defense could use this against you as you pursue compensation for your injuries.
While you may use social media to keep family and those close to you informed, even simple updates can work against your claim.
Avoid Posting Check-Ins on Facebook or Setting Your Location on Instagram
Checking in to places on Facebook or geo-tagging photos on Instagram and other social media networks should be halted during the course of your personal injury claim. These features show you traveling or attending events, which can be used against you – insurance companies and attorneys for the other side could argue you are not as injured or in as much pain as you claim to be.
On Facebook, make sure to activate the timeline review feature to prevent any posts or photos you are tagged in from showing on your timeline without your approval. Friends and family often post photos from events and gatherings, tagging those who attend. Across all social networks, review your location settings and make sure the geo-tagging or location features are turned off.
Do Not Post Photos That Show You Having Fun
When you pursue pain and suffering damages, photos that make you look happy and that you are having a good time can contradict these claims. Do not post photos of yourself participating in sports or other physical activities as they could be used to show your injuries were not as physically limiting as claimed.
Should I Simply Avoid Posting Anything?
Taking the steps above may help you, but you should probably avoid posting at all, if possible. Any information on your social media has the potential to be used against you. Even though you may think your posts seem harmless, it is best to refrain from posting anything while you pursue your personal injury claim. Keep friends and family updated of your situation by private messages, and do not discuss information your attorney has advised you keep private. Ask your friends and family not to share details of your case or any photos or information about you as you go through the legal process.
Reviewing Your Accounts
Make sure your privacy settings on all your social media accounts are set for maximum privacy. This way, no one except your friends, followers or those you have given permission to should be able to view your social media posts. If your privacy settings are not strong, the information on your profiles and in your posts can be taken and used against you.
If you posted about your accident before consulting an attorney, it may be a good idea to remove this content from your social media page(s). The insurance company often does extensive research on accident victims, and the Internet is the easiest place to begin a search – most people are vulnerable because they assume that what they post is safe.
Following these simple tips may seem like a challenge, especially if you are like most of the American population and love to share snippets of your life on social media. However, in the long-run, these tips may protect the value of your claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Attorneys
If you were injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Our South Bend personal injury attorneys can evaluate your case and present your legal options.
Request a free, no obligation consultation today. There are no upfront fees and payment is only due if we recover compensation on your behalf.
Call (574) 444-0741 today.
