Whether you like it or not, social media is part of our everyday lives now. It’s a great way to share updates of your life with family and friends, interact with people you don’t get to see often, and even photos of artisanal cups of coffee if you’re so inclined. What most people often fail to consider is the amount of personal information you’re putting out there to the world that can be used against you at some point.
Even with a private page, nothing is private on the Internet. If you are in the middle of a personal injury case, you must stay off of social media because everything you post can be used against you. Insurance companies and attorneys will stop at nothing to find anything they feel can help them win your case from your social network. This really applies to any endeavor where the potential exist that otherwise privileged information can get into the wrong hands.
How does this apply to your personal injury case? Let me explain.
Let’s say you hurt your ankle in an accident and post a photo of yourself at the gym, walking around, or generally doing something that someone with a severe injury shouldn’t do – it can be used against you in court. A picture is not even necessary to incriminate you. A status update saying “feeling great after my morning run” could derail your case.
If you find yourself in the middle of a case, do not post anything at all. Find a lawyer that you can trust and go over the details of your case. Stay away from social media until the end of your case so that you don’t slip up and post anything at all that can be used against you. If you need to keep up with friends, call them.
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. My office is here to help.
