The Pitfalls of Social Media and Personal Injury Cases In California

In this day and age, with politicians tweeting back and forth and just about every celebrity having an Instagram page, it can seem that social media is just another part of life. However, when you are involved in active litigation or have a pending personal injury case, it is extremely important to keep your personal life personal. This means avoiding social media completely.

What to Know About Going Online After or During a Case

No matter how private you think your posts are, you can bet there is a computer expert who can access them. Once you have posted something online, you lose control over how it is used or who may eventually access it. Many serious injury claims have been lost because victims posted images or videos online. Here are some quick tips to keep in mind:

What to Avoid

• Do not post comments about your injuries

• Do not mention the accident or event that caused your injuries

• Do not discuss medical care

• Do not discuss prior medical care

• Do not post pictures of videos of vehicles or anything relating to your injuries

• Avoid posting pictures or videos of yourself on vacation or performing any sort of activity that could make you look as though you were not injured

Why is it a Bad Thing to be Posting on Social Media?

Imagine two likely scenarios. Both of these have happened more than once in real life with injured plaintiffs.

A victim posts pictures of herself on vacation with her husband. She is simply sitting in a lounge chair on a beach in the picture. Although the woman may be recovering from a painful surgery or taking pain medications just to get through her vacation, which was planned long before her injury, a jury could easily be fooled into thinking that the woman is exaggerating her injury and not really hurt at all.

A man posts profane or threatening comments about someone who injured him. Even if he takes down the post after a few minutes, realizing he just let his anger get to him, it could be too late. If an insurance company surveillance operative gets a hold of the post, it could later be shown in a courtroom to make it look like the lawsuit was filed out of revenge, rather than as a legitimate claim for injuries.

Getting the Most Out of Your Case

The best way to win is to fight your battles through skilled attorney-led negotiations. When your case is over and the jury has spoken, there will be plenty of time to fill your relatives in on your life. Also, keep in mind that nothing prevents you from sharing photos and videos with loved ones. Just do not do it through social media.

Insurance companies are aggressive about looking for anything they can use to hurt your chance of recovering compensation. Do not give them help. Call The Law Offices Of Jake D Finkel today to schedule a free consultation.