Social Media and Your Personal Injury Claim

Social media is part of the fabric of our lives. It seems that everything from someone’s breakfast to their random musings is posted on either Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or Twitter. Anything you post on any social media site can be fair game for your personal injury claim. Personal injury attorneys are exceptionally adept at locating incriminating evidence, and social media has made their task very simple. Any post that exists on social media is up for public consumption, even the posts you feel may be private. Any person can take a screenshot of a tweet or post and then save it or send it to anyone else. Anything you post on social media regarding your personal injury claim can be used against you in your personal injury case.

The Court Process

While you may not be familiar with the legal process, it is one that is deserving of dignity and respect. Your personal injury case will be seen before a judge or jury and there is a gravity to the event that should not be mocked or diminished on social media. If you decide to write negative posts about your lawyer, your attorney, your judge or anyone involved, it could be used against you as evidence of your behavior and attitude regarding the legal proceeding. It is always best to remain silent regarding your court case until it is over.

Photographs

A picture is worth a thousand words. If you are involved in a personal injury case and are claiming that you have injuries due to someone else’s negligence and then proceed to post pictures of yourself skiing or dancing, these photographs may be used against you in a court of law. Your personal injury case will become scrutinized even more closely, and the judge or jury may begin to question whether you are being truthful with respect to your injuries. Even if what you post is innocent, pictures can be taken out of context. Consider waiting to post absolutely anything on social media until your personal injury case is completed.

Never Delete Anything

If you made the mistake of posting a photograph or post that you later regret, you should never delete anything from your social media accounts. While it may seem embarrassing to leave something up on social media, the trust is that the law is crystal clear on this topic. Deleting pictures or posts from social media accounts may be considered an obstruction of justice or the destruction of evidence regarding a legal court proceeding. The best practice is never to post anything on social media until your case is complete, but if you do, you should never delete it.

Let Us Help You Today

Avoid the temptation to post anything on social media until your personal injury case is over. If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, contact an experienced Columbia personal injury attorney at The Stanley Law Group at 803-799-4700 and set up a consultation today to discuss your case.

Resource:

bnnbloomberg.ca/facebook-cybersecurity-1.1032518

https://www.thestanleylawgroup.com/when-you-need-a-personal-injury-lawyer/