Social media has become such a substantial part of our lives that we often don't give it much thought. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram are parts of most people's daily lives. Most of us like to keep in touch with our friends and family, and social media is a great way to do that. However, if you are the plaintiff in a personal injury case, social media can be a minefield. There can be serious consequences to your case if you don't handle social media correctly. Here are some tips to keep in mind on how to handle social media during your personal injury case.
Try to Stay Away Until Your Case is Concluded
The easiest way to prevent your social media activities from affecting your personal injury case is just to stay away from social media entirely. You may be addicted to Facebook, but taking a break while your case is pending can prevent you from making an innocent mistake. Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys will comb through your social media accounts for any sign that you may not be injured or that you are responsible for your own injury. It may be hard to quit "cold turkey," but staying away from social media is the safest thing to do.
Don’t Discuss Your Accident or Case
If you can’t give up your social media activities, then you can at least make sure that you don’t discuss your accident. Any statements you make about your accident or case can be used against you later. For instance, you may want to let your family and friends know that you’re “fine” after your car accident. This seemingly innocuous statement could be used by an insurance adjuster as evidence that you weren’t seriously injured. This may even be inferred by one of your friends posting comments on your feed.
Use the Highest Privacy Settings on All of Your Accounts
Another way you can protect yourself if you choose to use social media during your case is to ensure that all of your accounts are on the highest privacy setting. While this may not protect you entirely, it can reduce the likelihood that an insurance adjuster or attorney can access your posts. Make all of your accounts private and be sure to set "tag review" on Facebook so that you have the ability to review any posts your friends attempt to tag you in. Additionally, don't accept any new friend requests or open any new social media accounts while your claim is pending.
Don’t Delete Your Accounts or Material on Your Accounts
Now that you are involved in a personal injury claim, you may be nervous about some of the posts that you made in the past. However, if you delete your social media accounts or posts, an insurance adjuster may claim that it is “spoliation of evidence” and that you are trying to hide something. While you can’t change the past, you can be more careful about how you handle social media going forward.
Talk to a Trusted Personal Injury Attorney
If you’ve been injured in an accident and you have questions about your accident or how to handle your social media, you should consult with a trusted personal injury attorney. The attorneys at Tison Law Group have decades of experience and can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact
the trusted attorneys at Tison Law Group or call us at 813-739-1776 to schedule your free consultation today.
