Social media is so entrenched in our everyday lives that one would wonder how we ever lived without it. Everyone is on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, YouTube, and the like. In fact, my office has a Facebook page to help inform current clients and build my client base.
If you are involved in an ongoing personal injury case, you may want to be aware of what you post in your social media accounts. There is a very good chance that insurance companies, private investigators, and defense attorneys will look into your social media accounts for damaging information. I recently heard a story from another attorney who had a client who was injured in an automobile accident. A few months after the accident, the client posted a Facebook status indicating that he was sore from the gym. Needless to say, the value of his case was greatly reduced.
Any facebook status that indicates you were capable of hard work, (i.e. “painted the house today”) or are playing sports (such as the example above) can have a negative effect on your case. Even vacation or “night out” pictures which show you having a good time with family or friends could be used by the defense to show that you were not really hurt.
This is just one more thing to consider when you are discussing your private life in an open forum. It is always best to wait until the case settles or reaches trial before discussing your physical condition to the public.
The Law Office of Joseph Lamy handles all manner of personal injury claims. If you have been hurt through the negligence of another person, contact our office for a free consultation.