How Social Media Can Affect Your Personal Injury Case
Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. It’s a platform where we share our thoughts, feelings, activities and even document significant life events. However, what many people do not realize is that their social media activity can potentially affect their personal injury case negatively.
When you file a personal injury claim after accidents like car crashes or slip and fall incidents, the opposing party will look for any possible evidence to challenge your claim. This includes scrutinizing your social media profiles for posts that contradict your claims of injury or emotional distress.
For instance, if you’ve claimed severe back injuries but post pictures of yourself hiking or lifting heavy objects on social media, it could be used as proof against the severity of your injuries. Even seemingly innocent posts about attending a family gathering or going out with friends can be misconstrued to suggest that you’re not as emotionally distressed as you claim to be.
Moreover, comments made on social networks are also fair game in court cases. Comments about the accident or injuries can often be taken out of context and used against you in court. For example, saying something like “I’m glad I walked away from that crash” might imply to some that your injuries aren’t severe.
It’s important to note here that deleting posts after they’ve been seen by the opposing counsel isn’t advisable either; it may appear as though you have something to hide which could further complicate matters. Courts have ruled repeatedly that information shared on social networking sites is public domain and therefore admissible in court.
Even privacy settings may not protect you completely since mutual friends might share screenshots of your posts with the opposition unknowingly. Therefore, it’s recommended to limit one’s use of social media during litigation entirely.
In addition to this precautionary measure, consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who understands how courts view social media evidence before posting anything online while your case is pending.
In conclusion, while sharing updates on our lives has become second nature for many of us, it’s crucial to remember that every post we make on social media can potentially be used as evidence in legal proceedings. Therefore, if you’ve filed a personal injury claim or are considering doing so, exercise caution when using social media to avoid inadvertently harming your case.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
1170 PA-315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702
15703990406