Social media is completely embedded in every aspect of our society nowadays. It’s normal for people to rant on sites like Twitter or Facebook if something in our everyday lives goes wary. According to a 2018 social media study by the Pew Research Center, 68% of U.S. adults use Facebook, 73% use YouTube and 45% are on Twitter.
When it comes down to dealing with a personal injury lawsuit, it is crucial that you are very cognizant of what you are posting on different platforms. Posting even one inappropriate status or photo could be extremely detrimental to your personal injury lawsuit. Insurance companies do not play around, and they will do what they can to make sure you don’t succeed. Keep reading for social media do’s and don’ts during a personal injury case.
Do:
- Keep the information you post during this time to a minimum – any and all things you post can be used against you by an insurance company.
- Remember that the best way for insurance companies to not use your social media platforms against you is to post nothing at all – if you can, avoid posting at all costs.
- Only post things that are factual – but this is only if you have to post on social media at all
- Tell your friends and family not to tag you in posts or photos – insurers will be checking those close to you to see if it can be used to harm your case.
- Acknowledge that even the highest security settings may not fully protect you and your privacy – insurance companies will try their hardest with personal investigators to do what they can to get you the least amount of money possible.
Don’t:
- Comment or post statuses accidentally mentioning fault in your case or liability – this is a surefire way for insurance companies to accuse you of being at fault in court.
- Post any photos or videos of you partaking in physical activity – this could be anything from a simple Instagram post about a cycling class, and it can disprove any claims you made about suffering physical injuries.
- Lie about where you were at the time of the incident – it is possible for apps to track where you were and what you were doing during the accident. This can be used to discredit your side of the story.
- Seem too happy in any social media posts – this will not work in your favor, especially if you filed for pain and suffering or mental anguish from your accident.
- Assume that you have a reasonable expectation of privacy for your posts on social media – courts will say that the sole purpose of social media is to disseminate information.
For any and all help with every aspect of your personal injury case, you can trust the Schwartz Law Firm LLC to be your experienced legal counsel during this trying time. From the moment your personal injury happens to when you’re not sure what to post on social media during your case, our Louisiana personal injury lawyers will be there to help. We have two locations in Louisiana, one Metairie and another in Baton Rouge. Feel free to call us today for your free initial consultation at 504-266-0253.