Problems for Personal Injury Lawsuits
More and more, our injury lawyers are finding that the things that social media, the things you post online are being admitted into in court as evidence. Think about it. The updates, photos and videos you post to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat can be very easy to access.
Every day, people post photos, status updates and videos that create a window into their personal lives. Insurance companies may explore all of your posts, past and present, to uncover your character and your lifestyle. They will look at the type of activities you participated in prior to your injury and dig for signs of pre-existing injuries. More importantly, they will follow your activity after the injury.
Social media recommendations from our lawyers:
- Lock down your accounts– This is the easiest way to help prevent information from being used against you.
- Monitor photos – Keep a close eye on photos that you post or are tagged in. Untag yourself or ask the person who posted it to delete it right away.
- Watch what friends post – Monitor what’s being posted on your wall to make sure nothing can be misinterpreted.
- Monitor comments – Be careful when commenting on friends’ statuses or photos.
Our lawyers ask you to consider your social media presence –
Although Facebook, Twitter, and blogs are the most targeted, don’t forget about the rest of your online presence. Are you on LinkedIn, YouTube, Tumblr, or Flickr? These may all be other sources of information for other lawyers or insurance companies.
Ask the question: “Who am I really sharing this information with? Could it be used as harmful evidence?” If your gut tells you yes, it’s probably a good idea not to post it.
Don’t talk to strangers. If you are involved in a personal injury or insurance case, beware of friend requests from people that you don’t know. Folks who want to access your information have ways of making you think that you know them. Be very careful.
