Why Injury Victims Need to Beware of Social Media 

 Posted on March 23, 2023 in Car Accidents

There are a host of reasons why millions of Americans log on to social media platforms each and every day. From seeking support to connecting with others who share the same passions, getting the word out about important causes to catching up with loved ones, social media allows people to express themselves openly and instantly in the Digital Age’s version of a town square. Yet, not all activity on social media yields positive results. For example, injury victims need to take great care when engaging on social media platforms due to the unique risks that such activity poses while an injury-related legal case remains unresolved.

“Anything You Say Can and Will…”

Anyone who has ever watched a full season of a legal drama can probably recite the Miranda warnings by heart. The phrase “anything you say can and will be used against you” is the opening line of the Miranda warnings read to criminal defendants as they are being arrested. In a strange way, it can be very helpful for injury victims to keep this phrase in mind as they are engaging on social media while their personal injury lawsuit, insurance claim, and/or workers’ compensation benefits application remains pending.

It is true that the Internet is not always an injury victim’s enemy. For example, notable cases involving victims calling out insurance companies for bad-faith practices and receiving justice in high-profile fashion serve as victorious examples of speaking truth to power. However, social media platforms trip injury victims up far more often than they lend them aid.

Insurance companies and opposing counsel now regularly mine the social media accounts of injury victims, searching for evidence that they are not as hurt as they claim to be or that they were partially to blame for what happened. As a result, everything that an injury victim posts or responds to online could potentially be used as evidence to undermine their case. Even a picture of a victim doing physical therapy exercises could, if taken out of context, be used as evidence to undermine the credibility of their claims.

Contact an Experienced Rockford County Personal Injury Lawyer for Personalized Guidance

It is not always easy to know how to approach the aftermath of an injurious situation. You may suspect that you are in a strong position to take legal action, but you are likely unaware of how to build the strongest case possible under the circumstances. Thankfully, you do not need to navigate this challenging time alone. The reputable team of Rockford, IL personal injury lawyers at Mannarino & Brasfield, A Division of Schwartz Injury Law can help you to make informed decisions about every aspect of your case.  

We are proud to offer free legal consultations to any injury victims who are interested in learning more about their options and about our firm’s approach to legal representation. To begin the process of building a personal injury case, please call us at 815-215-7561 or reach out via our website. The sooner you get in touch, the sooner we can help you to safeguard your own interests. 

Source:

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/18/your-money/progressives-side-of-the-insurance-case-that-blew-up-on-the-internet.html