Social Media’s Impact on Personal Injury Claims

In the United States, approximately 81 percent of people have a social media profile of some kind. Social media is a great way to stay connected with friends and family, share photos as well as ideas. While social media is an excellent tool for being “social,” it can have negative repercussions on your personal injury case.

From oversharing information to posting photos, what is shared on social media can be used against you and your personal injury case. Use these tips to avoid common social media mistakes that could end up costing your claim.

What You Post On Social Media

People spend on average 2 hours and 15 minutes on social media every day. Whether you are adding to your story, uploading a photo, or updating your status, you should think twice before doing so when you are filing a personal injury claim. It may be tempting to update your followers on what is happening in your life, but a post on social media could contradict the testimony you provided and hurt your claim.

For example, if you have a broken limb as a result of your accident and post that you are going to play basketball, an insurance company could use that to question the extent and seriousness of your injuries. Even posting too much on social media about topics unrelated to your case could potentially harm it. The defense may argue that your emotional or physical pain is not as severe as you are claiming.

In addition to your personal social media accounts, you will also want to inform your friends and family to refrain from posting about you or your injury until a settlement is reached.

Privacy Settings

Another way to ensure social media does not hinder your case is to check your privacy settings on all of your social media accounts. Updating your profiles from public to private will add a layer of protection in case anyone is searching for evidence to work against you. Learn how to update and manage your social media privacy settings with this easy to use guide.

If you receive a friend request from a person, you do not know it is best to exercise extreme caution, especially when you are in the middle of a personal injury claim. This person could be trying to gain access to your profile to see if you are posting any information that could contradict your claim.

How A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help

Are you the victim of a personal injury accident? You do not have to navigate this situation on your own, consider hiring an expert. A personal injury lawyer can provide you with the advice and guidance you need to make sure you are strengthening your case and not weakening it. Your lawyer will advise you on what you should post and avoid posting on social media as well as other valuable information like how to speak with insurance companies.

From dog bites to bicycle accidents, the experts at Elsner Law Firm are here to answer any questions you may have about your case. Contact us today for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.