If you are considering pursuing a personal injury claim due to an injury that was caused in part or in whole by someone else acting negligently, then you would be wise to carefully consider what you are sharing on social media. It likely comes as no surprise that the insurance company of the at-fault party will do anything to disprove your injuries and reduce your claim. One option is for them to gather information about you on social media.
You may think that everything you have posted is innocent. You may think that it could not come back to hurt you. But you may be wrong. Keep reading to learn more about how your social media profile could affect your case and then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you are in need of a free legal consultation with a personal injury attorney.
Insurance Companies Are on the Lookout for Evidence That Your Injuries Are Not Real
There is nothing the insurance adjuster would like more than to uncover evidence that your injuries are not real or that you are overstating your injuries. If they can prove that this is the case, or convince a judge / jury that they have evidence that proves it, then your claim could be significantly reduced or even denied.
Even “Private” Posts Can Be Used Against You
There is a very common assumption that all you have to do so to be on social media without consequence is to make posts “friends only” or “private.” However, the courts have upheld time and time again that there is no reasonable expectation of privacy on social media regardless of privacy settings. In some court cases, the courts have required that plaintiffs give their social media account and password information to defense counsel.
Examples of Social Media Posts That Can Hurt Your Case
It is not uncommon for a person to believe that it is fine to post on social media during their case as long as they do not reference the case. This is false. For example, let us say that you are on Facebook and you check in to your local gym. The plaintiff’s attorney may argue that if you are able to exercise at a public gym, your injury must not be that serious.
Even posting about how much you liked a certain movie could get you in trouble. How? If the movie is in the theaters and you are suing for a spinal cord injury, the plaintiff’s attorney could argue that you would not be able to sit through a movie if your injury was as bad as you say it was.
As you can see, even seemingly innocent social media posts can lead to serious repercussions including the possibility of your claim being denied altogether. To talk to an attorney who can help you get the best possible outcome for your case, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
