Social media can have a significant impact on your personal injury case, and in many instances, it can prove to be a liability. As such, it’s important to be careful about what you post online, especially after an accident.
Instances Where Social Media Creates a Liability
There are a number of instances where social media—such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram—can create a liability.
Photos Of You In Action
If you were injured in an accident but posted pictures of yourself up and about the day after, it could undermine your case. Photos found online could be used to prove that you’re not as severely injured as you might claim, making it harder to recover the damages you need from your accident.
Posts From Witnesses
Eyewitness accounts found on social media could also come into play in your case, and that can create problems if they don’t corroborate the claims you make. For instance, they may highlight details about the accident that could be used to prove negligence on your part, thereby diminishing the amount you’ll be able to recover in damages.
Your Own Posts
Your own posts could also be used against you, whether you make them shortly after the incident or a month later. As such, it’s important to be extremely careful about what you post online with respect to an accident.
How Social Media Can Help Your Case
While social media could pose a liability, it can also potentially help as well if it provides evidence that supports your case.
Posts From Others
Social media posts from eyewitnesses could lend support to your case. If they provide details that help prove the negligence of the party who caused your injury, those details can help solidify the claims you make. In addition, others may have had similar experiences to yours, as may be the case in a product liability claim.
Timestamps For The Defendant’s Activity
If the defendant’s use of social media—such as tweeting while driving—resulted in your injury, timestamps on their posts could be used as evidence against them.
Minimizing the Risk to Your Case
In order to minimize the risks posed by social media to your personal injury case, follow these tips.
Be Careful What You Post
First, be careful what you post to social media after your accident. It’s generally best to avoid sharing details about your accident, and you might even want to abstain from using social media at all for a while after. In addition, avoid having pictures of yourself posted, particularly if they show you being active.
Follow Doctors’ Orders
It’s also important to follow all doctors’ orders with respect to your physical recovery. If they restrict physical activity, the best way to avoid getting caught engaging in such is to follow their instructions.
Work With An Attorney
Finally, you’ll want to work with a competent personal injury attorney. They’ll instruct you on what to do and what to avoid when it comes to pursuing your claim, and they’ll be able to handle the process of securing evidence. Their legal help is vital to pursuing damages, so you’ll want to contact one early on in the process.