Social media has become a part of our everyday lives. We take pictures of our beautiful Southern California sunsets or the various places that we visit. We show our friends what we made for dinner or the latte art from a new trendy coffee shop. We even take pictures of medical procedures and injuries we may have endured — all of this in an effort to share our lives or entertain others.
The problem with this is somethings should not be shared, especially if you were injured and want to file a personal injury claim. Sharing details of your accident or personal injury case can land you in trouble and jeopardize your case. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, slip and fall, or workplace accident, you should be careful about what you post online.
Social Media Accounts Spell Trouble
While the majority of people use at least one social media account daily, many people use multiple social media accounts, posting images, and sharing information across many platforms. The old cliché is true - be careful what you post online.
After you’ve suffered a personal injury, you need to be careful about what you post online as it could get you into trouble. If you suffered a neck injury and you post a picture of you riding a roller coaster or doing physical activity, that evidence can be used against you.
Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance companies are in the business of making money, so they will do whatever it takes to diminish the value of your claim. This includes trying to friend you on social media and watching the information you put up online.
Don’t make it easy for them.
Insurance companies use investigators who will scour your social media accounts for valuable information. This includes:
- Social media posts (both pictures and text)
- Job updates
- Status changes
- Tweets
- Tagged posts and images
The last one is very important. If a friend tags you in a post, mentions something you were doing, or posts a picture of you, it could damage your case. If your friend or family posts the wrong thing, the insurance company investigators may find it and use it against you. The wrong social media post could literally cost you money, and that could result in a delay in your recovery. Be sure to discuss your case and the limits of social media with your friends and loved ones, so they don’t post something my mistake.
Limiting Access to Your Account
When you are in an accident, you should be thoughtful about what you put on social media. Don’t post anything related to your accident, injuries, or your case.
Here are some additional social media rules you need to abide by:
- Don’t friend anyone you don’t know. Investigators my try to friend or follow you to gain access to your information.
- Change all of your social media accounts to private. Investigators will be looking through your social for evidence, so do your best to limit their access. However, even if your accounts are private, you should be careful about what you post.
- Don’t friend your lawyer. The details of your social media accounts should be discussed in-office if need be.
- Don’t delete old posts. Don’t alter or delete any posts that you have already put up. This could be seen as tampering with evidence, and it could hurt your case.
- Use good judgment. Before you post anything online, ask yourself if it could possibly impact your case. Don’t post anything you may regret later.
Don’t Diminish Your Compensation
Your recovery is directly tied to the compensation you receive from your case, and by holding negligent parties accountable for your injuries, you can keep your focus on getting better.
At Steinberg Injury Lawyers, it is our goal to help you make a full and complete recovery by fighting for the compensation you deserve, including compensation for:
- Emotional distress
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of companionship
- Pain and suffering
You shouldn’t have to worry about your medical bills or your personal injury claim, so we take the legal matters of your hands, so all you have to do is stay off social media or be careful about what you post.
Contact Your Los Angeles Personal Injury Lawyer
Before you post anything on social media, give Steinberg Injury Lawyers a call. We are standing by, ready to handle your case and negotiate with your insurance company to help you maximize your settlement.
Contact Steinberg Injury Lawyers today for a free, no-obligation evaluation to discuss your case. Start your road to recovery today and learn how we can help you move forward.
