Social media has become increasingly important to us in the past few years. We use it to stay in touch with friends and family, talk about what’s going on in our lives, and say anything we want. But you should know that using social media the wrong way could hurt your personal injury claim.
If you were hurt in an accident and want to file a claim, here are the top five ways social media can break your case:
1. Your insurance company can use what you post on social media against you.
If you are in an accident, your insurance company may look at your social media accounts to find information that could get used against you. For example, say you were in a car accident and had posted pictures of yourself drinking or using drugs. In that case, the insurance company could use this information to say that you were drunk at the time of the accident and that this contributed to the accident.
When you use social media, you need to be aware of this because anything you post could be used against you in court. If you are ever in an accident, it is best not to post anything on social media until the case is over.
2. Your posts on social media could be used as proof that you are not hurt.
If you are trying to get compensation for a personal injury, you should know that your social media posts could get used to prove that you are not hurt. Insurance companies and defendants often search social media for proof that a plaintiff’s injury isn’t as bad as they say it is.
For example, if you say you can’t walk without pain but post pictures of yourself running or hiking, the defendant may use these pictures to argue that you are not hurt. Also, if you say you can’t work but post photos of yourself performing, the defendant may use these photos to show that you are not disabled and can work.
So, if you want to get money for a personal injury, you must be careful about what you post on social media.
3. People can say bad things about you on social media.
Your social media can get used against you if you file a personal injury claim. If you’ve been hurt in an accident, you need to know how your social media posts can get used against you.
In the past few years, there have been several times when people’s social media activity has gotten used to casting doubt on their character. For instance, pictures or posts that show you doing dangerous things can get used to showing that you were more likely to have caused your accident. Or, if you talk about your injuries online before going to the doctor, this can get used to showing that your injuries aren’t as bad as you say they are.
4. If you talk about your accident online, you might lose your right to privacy.
If you tell people about your accident on social media, you might lose your right to privacy since anything you post is considered public information. And if you talk about your accident on social media, you might lose your right to privacy.
So, it would be best if you didn’t talk about your accident on social media.
5. The other side can see your posts on social media.
In the digital age, knowing that the other side can read what you post on social media is essential. It is especially true in court, where both sides often look through social media posts to find proof.
Even though it might be tempting to talk about your case on social media, you should know that anything you post can get used against you. Before posting anything on social media, you should talk to an attorney if you are involved in a legal case.Garcia and Phan Southern California Personal Injury can help you with your personal injury claim. Visit us today or call us at 714-586-8298 for a free consultation.
