If you are involved in a personal injury lawsuit, it is critical to be mindful of your activity on social media. These platforms can be excellent for keeping in touch with family and friends, but insurers may use the information you post against you. This has happened, and it is important to know.
Why you should stay off social media
Whether on Facebook, Instagram or X, it seems like everyone documents their lives online. This is a useful tool in many ways.
However, when you are in a personal injury lawsuit, you can bet that insurance companies will look for your posts, pictures and videos in hopes they find evidence that contradicts your injury claims.
For instance, if you post a video on Instagram of yourself hiking, attending a party and having a great time or participating in any sport, that could be interpreted as evidence that your injuries are not as severe as you claim they are. Even posts that seem innocuous can be used against you.
Everything you post is public
Anything you share online can be discovered and presented in court. Insurance adjusters are trained to search for evidence in the most unlikely places, and today, social media is commonplace. They will seek information that diminishes your credibility, even if it is as simple as a comment.
Protect your case
To protect yourself, it is better not to use social media during your lawsuit. If you can deactivate your online accounts, that is the best solution.
However, if you cannot do that, make sure that your social media accounts are private and that you do not post anything that could hurt you. It is tricky to know what could or could not hurt you, so it is best to err on the side of being as private as possible.
If you have questions about something specific, contact your attorney to get the green light before posting. It is better to prevent a catastrophe than to try to fix a problem that, in many cases, cannot be completely fixed.