Today most adults use some kind form of social media and many adults are active on more than one platform. Social media connects us with friends and allows us to share updates about our lives. Social media also has the ability to allow users to post something that may come back to haunt them. This is especially true for injury victims who use social media. When you have an active personal injury claim and say something on social media that may seem insignificant, it may negatively impact your case and damage your chances of recovery.
Saying something on social media that contradicts your claim is more common than many people appreciate. If a portion of your claim includes an arm injury and you post on social media about going out for an evening of bowling the defense may challenge your injury claim. This can be the result even if you were with a group of friends and you were only an observer. When you have an injury claim, complete honesty about your injuries and losses is a must. Social media posts that contradict your testimony can ruin your case. Check-ins on Facebook and other social media sites may show you’re participating in activities that contradict the injuries you’re claiming. When a portion of your claim includes mobility limitations and you’re checking into a Yoga class, you may have trouble explaining that.
Social media may reveal your physical capability after your injury. Posting a picture with your friends on a ski slope might make the other side ask who took the picture. If the answer is you, they’ll have proof that you’re on a ski hill. If the answer is someone else, they could be called to unwillingly testify against you. Your posts may call your case into question in ways you cannot to predict. When you’re bringing an injury claim, your statements to others outside of court are admissible against you because you’re a party to the case. Social media posts count as statements, and they may be used against you in court. Statements by family and friends on social media are admissible if they contradict the same person’s statement in court.
You might believe you can use social media during your injury case as long as you’re careful about what you post. You might even assume you can filter your posts by reading everything you post with a critical eye. Think again! It’s too easy to say something you don’t realize may be used against you. You never know how the other side is going to try to twist your words and your posts. Even making your Facebook page “friends only” or even making it “private” means there are still things the other side can see. If they know any of your friends, they can ask your friends to give them the information voluntarily.
We represent people who are injured because of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. The reason that insurance companies have paid our clients in excess of $130,000,000.00 is that we get the facts and are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial when insurance companies fail to offer full compensation. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 888-809-1075 or visit www.gblegal.com We would be honored to represent you!
