Social Media and Personal Injury Claims
Social media sites, like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tumblr, and YouTube, have become a routine part of the everyday lives of most people. In fact, 68% of adults visit and post on social media sites several times each day. Most of us have also heard stories about a person whose personal post on a site like Facebook has resulted in the loss of a relationship, a friendship, or even their livelihood. It is also important to know that what you say on social media sites can also negatively affect your personal injury claim. As with any claim that you choose to pursue, it is important that you seek the representation of an experienced personal injury attorney to help you.
Use of Photographs
While we know that emotional trauma is certainly an illness that is not necessarily outwardly obvious, people find it much easier to understand when a person’s outward demeanor reveals that something isn’t right. It is possible, even normal, to endure anxiety and nightmares following a car accident. It is also plausible that you are still capable of putting a smile on your face and getting dressed up to participate in an occasion that is very important to someone you love. Posting pictures of things like this on social media, however, is not going to do anything beneficial for your personal injury claim. These kinds of photographs will be twisted to indicate that your emotional suffering is made up. Whether or not it is fair, the majority of people will have a harder time believing that a smiling, well-put-together person is also experiencing depression or anxiety or any other emotional trauma.
Use of Written Posts
Along the exact same lines as not posting pictures of you being incredibly socially active following your car accident, be very careful of what you say in any post that you publish on the internet. If you are writing to your friends on Facebook that you are “not feeling too bad today” or answering a concerned friend who wants to know how you are doing, a simple “I’m fine” could very easily have you and your lawsuit headed for trouble. These comments and comments like them can possibly be used against you as proof that you feel perfectly fine and are not grieving from any pain or even that seriously hurt following your traffic accident.
When you are filing a personal injury lawsuit following a vehicle collision in California, it is really the best thing to just stay out of the public eye. Abstaining from posting on any social media at all is really the smartest and safest course of action. This reduces any chance of photos or even your own words being used to hurt your case by insurance companies or the defendant. The Los Angeles Injury Group is here to help you get the financial compensation that you are entitled to under the law. If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident, give us a call at 310-954-7248 for a free consultation with one of our licensed attorneys today.