Social Media and Personal Injury Cases
Modern society has made it usual for nearly all adults to be active users of social media websites. We can stay in touch with friends and family by using social media to post status and updates about our life. Massive amounts of personal data can be shared between users.
Inadvertently posting something hurtful on social media might happen. This is particularly for personal injury victims who are active on social media. You should exercise extreme caution when posting on social media while pursuing an accident lawsuit, as experienced NYC Injury Attorneys, P.C., would counsel you. Read on to find out more about the impact social media might have on your injury case.
Social Media’s Impact:
Students in the age of social media may remember their parents and instructors telling them not to publish anything embarrassing online because it could come back to bother them later in life. Their main concern was if your reputation would be tarnished among future employers and in-laws due to offensive language or intoxicated party photos. However, as the usage of social media has grown, so have the dangers.
People convicted of crimes after posting photos of themselves with stolen goods on social media or boasting on Twitter about vandalizing their ex’s automobile may have made you giggle. It’s not as newsworthy when an insurance company uses social media posts to harass a car accident victim or a worker hurt in a construction site accident. If that’s the case, you’ve probably heard less about how a social media post can affect a settlement or lawsuit because of a photo, video, or even a short sentence. It does happen, however, and you might be shocked by the kinds of images and postings that might do you harm.
Legal teams in personal injury cases have simple access to the victim’s social media posts because of the internet’s ease of use in the modern era of accessibility.
However, even if they’re inconsequential, many of them could be utilized against the injured person in their lawsuit. If someone is suing for compensation, they must contact their lawyer first before sharing any information on social media. Even information provided with family and friends can be interpreted incorrectly, which can jeopardize a lawsuit’s validity.
Personal Injury Claims and Social Media:
In a personal injury case, the opposing counsel may make an effort to use all evidence they can find against the injured party. As a result, avoid making any new posts while the claim is pending. On the other hand, many people do not want to be completely cut off from the internet, even during court hearings. That’s why researching whether websites might have evidence against the wounded person is critical. When looking for compensation, the best place to avoid is Facebook. Insurance firms may go via this website when a claim for injury compensation is made due to a car accident or another incident.
Pictures depicting activities that should be prohibited while recovering from injuries could be used as evidence in the defense case. Such acts should not be possible if the patient is in a lot of discomforts. When a victim publicly tells a friend about the accident in a Facebook post, it can be seen as damning since it implies that the friend was somehow at fault, such as a past injury or being distracted while driving. Posts on social networking networks question people’s candor when it comes to injuries.
Every day, more than 100,000 new users sign up for Twitter accounts. Users can easily and quickly upload information for everyone to see on this website, and insurance adjusters frequently check photographs and details posted by others. Lawyers and insurance businesses use LinkedIn because of the networking that takes place there. Professionals who use this website to stay in touch may pretend to be someone they’re not, such as the other side’s attorney or an insurance firm.
On Pinterest, personal photos are closely watched because so many photos are shared there every day. This website has the potential to reveal injuries — or the absence of them. A video from YouTube showing how the injured party is pretending to have wounds may be available as evidence. Lawyers and insurance firms have looked into Google+, although it is not as well-known. Anything you submit here, whether it’s a picture or a comment, could be used against you in court.
Foursquare is a location-based social networking service popular with young people. A lawyer can see where an accident victim goes using global positioning technology after the two have been reconnected. Even if the app does not show evidence that the person is physically active, the location has the power to punish the individual regardless.
What Should Accident Victims Do If They’ve Been Injured?
If you’ve been injured in an accident, utilize social media sparingly. When it comes to personal injury claims, using social media entails significant risk, and this danger isn’t worth the satisfaction that comes from posting on sites like Facebook or Twitter. It’s evident that when a personal injury victim finds information online that could jeopardize their case, the best course of action is to delete it as soon as possible. Personal injury victims, on the other hand, should first speak with an attorney. It is the role of the litigants in a dispute to preserve all relevant evidence, including that which can be found on social media.
What Assistance Can Lawyers Provide?
A personal injury lawyer is critical if you’ve been hurt in an accident and want to file a compensation claim. Your lawyer can assist you with preparing your case, including drafting pleadings and filing them with the appropriate authorities. At every level of the case, your lawyer or law firm will offer sound advice.
This advice is critical in helping you understand the pitfalls to watch out for so that your argument is clear and persuasive. Additionally, we can assist you in avoiding social media traps throughout your case. Keep your focus on getting the compensation you deserve and not letting a little error derail your efforts.
Have you suffered an injury? NYC Injury Attorneys can assist you with preparing your case. Get in touch for a free consultation.