Social media has become an essential facet of our day-to-day lives. We utilize this powerful technology to express ourselves on a virtual platform. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – these social networking services let us post our daily activities, contact friends, reconnect with family members, and even stay updated on current world events. But the content and pictures you share online can have a serious impact on your personal injury case. Even posts that you think are private can back to haunt you in the courtroom.
Jeopardizing Your Right to Compensation
After an accident, you may have grounds to pursue compensation by filing a personal injury claim. If you’re pursuing noneconomic damages, like “pain and suffering,” you’re essentially claiming that your accident-related injuries are preventing you from living the lifestyle you once enjoyed. To save money, the defendant’s insurance company will hire private investigators to stalk your social media accounts. Unfortunately, not even privacy controls can protect your account from being subpoenaed. This policy also includes comments or photos posted by your friends. For example, harmless Facebook comments like “I’m getting better each day!” and “Want to go hiking?” can potentially devalue your claim. Even just a picture of you happily running can limit or eliminate your right to certain damages.
Social media can hurt your case in the following ways:
- It can contradict your claim
- It can challenge the severity of your injury
- It can undermine your noneconomic damages
The best way to protect your claim is to stay off social media for the duration of your personal injury case. For some people, this is easier said than done, especially if they rely on social media for entertainment or career self-promotion. Even so, the most effective means of self-protection is to completely ignore your social media accounts – and don’t try to beat the system by making new ones under an alias. It’s also important to notify your friends and family members about your case. This will keep them from posting anything that jeopardizes your claim. You don’t want to delete your accounts, because that just looks suspicious. If you’re still concerned about your internet footprint, you can always Google yourself and see what comes up!
Have Questions? Schedule a Consultation
The Austin personal injury lawyers at The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC have a comprehensive understanding of insurance company policies and practices. If you’re concerned about the current status of your case or require legal representation, contact our firm immediately. We can address your questions and help you protect your claim.
We’re available 24/7. Contact The Stewart Law Firm, PLLC at {F:P:Site:Phone} to schedule a consultation.
