Blog

In the News Again: Do Not Make These 5 Social Media Mistakes After an Accident

Though we have shared several blog posts relating to social media use after accidents, we have seen the issue in the news yet again. A young woman who was the victim of a car accident may have lost her ability to be compensated for her injuries because she posted a photo of herself in a night club. Should a person not be eligible for compensation if they are able to have a good time on just a single night?

We do not think that this should be the case but it is. As a result, we want to remind our former and future clients of the biggest mistakes they can make after an accident. If you have questions, or want a free legal consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 right away.

  1. Do Not Post Pictures or Allow Yourself to Be Tagged in Photos
  2. It is common sense to not post a picture that directly contradicts your injury. For example, if you have suffered a broken leg, you would not post a picture of yourself skiing. However, there are other pictures that could get you in trouble even though they seem innocent. That is why we recommend that you do not post pictures of yourself. We recommend that you do not allow others to post pictures of you, but if they must then at least ask them not to tag you.

    This even includes old photos. Remember – there is no time stamp on online photos. Even if it was from last summer, a savvy attorney could use the photo to plant doubt in the mind’s of the jury or judge.

  3. Do Not Comment About Your Accident
  4. This means that you should not make posts about it but it also means that you should not post any comment about it anywhere. Remember that even if you are posting on an article that is not attached to your social media account, if your name is there, then it could potentially be used against you.

  5. Do Not Be Fooled by “Privacy”
  6. Do not assume that you are protected by posting “privately.” That information can still be found and viewed in a number of ways.

  7. Do Not Talk About Your Injury
  8. You may think that there is nothing wrong with posting about how much pain you are in. In fact, you may think this would help your case. It will not. The fact of the matter is that the other side can use even the tiniest discrepancy between anything you post online and anything you say in court.

  9. Do Not Lie to Your Attorney
  10. If you have made a mistake and posted something you should not have posted, be honest with your attorney. We can handle the situation better if we can prepare for it – do not let your attorney be surprised at a deposition or at trial.