Love it or hate it, social media has become part of the fabric of everyday life. Whether you use Facebook to keep in touch with old high school friends or you like to post pictures on Instagram of the dinner you just cooked, many of us are constantly using (or thinking about) social media on a regular basis.
While most of the time this past time is pretty harmless—and at worst maybe just a little self-indulgent and certainly a big time waster—our seemingly harmless social media updates could potentially be used against us if we are ever involved in a lawsuit.
If you were involved in a car accident, it can be particularly tempting to want to update your social media to inform your friends and family of the state of your car or even just that you’re okay, but it would be a good idea to pause before you hit “publish.”
Let’s learn more about how social media updates can potentially be used in a trial and some best social media practices after you’ve been involved in an accident.
HOW SOCIAL MEDIA CAN WORK AGAINST YOU IN A PERSONAL INJURY CASE
Social media is a decent outlet for venting your frustrations. And if you’ve been involved in a car accident or a slip and fall accident, it can be tempting to write down all your feelings (and maybe share a few photos of the damage) for cathartic reasons.
But when it comes to personal injury cases, the less said in public the better. If you are trying to pursue compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, or lost wages, the defendant’s legal team will try to do everything in their power to deny or lessen the claim—including anything you may have posted on a social forum like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc.
Even if your account is technically “private,” it’s best to not post anything about the accident because the insurance company and defense attorney may request access to your account. If they are granted access, they could gather any photos that would be relevant to the case, timeline posts, conversations between friends, and location check-ins.
It’s also best not to post much on social media in general after you decide to pursue litigation. For example, if you’re trying to receive compensation for pain and suffering, but you’ve posted several photos of you and friends smiling at a concert, then the defense attorney and the insurance company might use those pictures as evidence of you not having as much pain and suffering as you had claimed.
Bottom line? It’s just best not to post on social media once you’re involved in a personal injury case.
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident or a slip and fall accident in Georgia, you’ll need representation that will be there with you every step of the way. Call the Fry Law Team at (404) 948-3571 to schedule a consultation today!
