These days, it’s common to share many aspects of your life on Facebook and other social media sites. However, if you are pursuing a personal injury lawsuit, you need to be more careful about what you post on social media. Insurance adjusters will thoroughly investigate your case and will likely look at your social media profiles. They will try to find anything on your social media profiles that suggest that you aren’t really injured. For example, if you claim that you have a back injury from the accident and you post a photo of yourself at an amusement park, insurance adjusters may think you aren’t truly hurt.
While you don’t have to stay off of social media entirely, you can’t post as freely as you once did. Insurance companies are in the business of making money and will do anything to avoid paying a high settlement. They may look for photos or videos of you participating in activities that could further damage the injuries you are claiming.
Here are some common social media mistakes that could ruin your claim:
- Vent Posting: If you have suffered a personal injury, you may be tempted about the physical pain and financial struggles you’ve faced on social media. You just want to vent and seek advice from your family and friends. However, this is a bad idea. You don’t want the insurance company finding out more information about your case than they need to.
- Posting Images: If you suffered a leg injury from the accident, for example, and you post a photo of yourself hiking, it could hurt your credibility. The insurance company may think that you truly aren’t that hurt if you can do that kind of physical activity.
- Logging Activities: What your friends post on social media can also affect your case. For example, if they tag you in a photo where you are working out at the gym, it can contradict your claim. Insurance adjusters may see these photos and assume you aren’t as injured as you originally claimed. Tell your friends to not tag you in any photos while you are in the middle of your case.
If you are filing a personal injury lawsuit, be especially cautious about what you write on your social media accounts. If you remain low-key, you will be less likely to jeopardize your case. If you have any other questions about what you post on social media, don’t hesitate to ask your attorney such as the Personal injury lawyer Memphis, TN locals trust.
Thanks to authors at Wiseman Bray LLC for their insight into Personal Injury Law.