Social Media and the Impact it can have on a Personal Injury Case – Part II

Hopefully, Part I of this content was an eye-opener for individuals who have hired a personal injury lawyer or are contemplating doing so.  People are extremely active in social media today in cities such throughout the Greater Toronto Area.  Consequently, it is vital that you use a great deal of caution when you make comments and put up posts on Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media platform that you may be active on. Are you being tagged in other people’s social media channels? That can be equally detrimental. Thus, think before you act.

4 Ways Social Media will adversely impact Your Case

When you are pursuing a personal injury claim with an experienced lawyer, there are 4 ways that your social media activity can literally destroy your case and get your claim denied in a court of law.  Keep the following in mind the next time you are interacting on one of these platforms:

  • Avoid posting photos of you having a good time – case in point; if you are sidelined with a back injury you don’t want to post photos of you and your friends playing a round of golf or water skiing.
  • Don’t sit around playing games on the computer all day – if you have a sedentary job and you claim that your injuries prevent you from doing it, the insurance companies will be suspicious if you are playing games all day on social media sites.
  • Never post photos of the accident, your injuries, or anything else associated with your circumstances – the insurance companies could use this against you and try to deny or invalidate your claim.
  • Stop complaining about your job – if you have historically been an individual who complains about their employer or the type of work you do on a regular basis, the insurance companies may view this behavior as your attempt to discredit your boss or to spend some time off away from the job.

If you are going to remain active on social media platforms, send your comments and photos carefully as if you were posting them to the enemy.  After all, that’s what they truly are.  Remember, they are always monitoring what you are doing on those sites.

Helpful Tips regarding Social Media Use

In order to prevent social media activities from becoming a detriment to your personal injury claim, consider the following measures:

  • Always be honest where your injuries are concerned.
  • Stop and think about what you are going to post.
  • Your social media pages and profile should be private.

Our lives have been forever changes by the internet and social media platforms and in some instances, those changes have not been for the best.  If you are filing a claim for your injuries, be sure to discuss this issue with your Cambridge, Brantford, or Hamilton personal injury lawyer. They are the only ones that can be of assistance.