Say you were recently in an injury accident and are eager to post about it online to let your family and friends know you’re OK.
Bad idea.
Even a seemingly innocent post or cell phone photo can be used against you in court. Keep these six social media dos and don’ts in mind before you post anything online:
Don’t: Post About Your Case
It may be tempting to vent your frustration about your injury case, but that can hurt your legal case. Remember, anything you post can be used as evidence. Therefore, avoid discussing details regarding the actual incident or anything about negotiations, settlements, or conversations with your personal injury attorney in Wausau, WI.
Do: Set Your Accounts to Private
If you haven’t done this already, now is a good time to limit the visibility of your social media accounts. Set them to private so that only people you’ve approved can see your posts. Remember that even your “private” posts can still be obtained through legal channels, so remember the first point, too, that you need to be careful about what you say online, even if it’s not about your case.
Don’t: Post About Your Activities
Insurance companies often monitor the social media accounts of those involved in injury cases. Therefore, posting any physical activities or events may suggest you are not as injured as you claim – even if there’s a good explanation behind the post. The general rule of thumb is to avoid sharing anything that could be perceived as evidence suggesting you’re not as injured as you claim.
Do: Ask Friends and Family to Avoid Posting About You
All of this applies to your friends and family. Ask them to avoid posting about you online until your case is wrapped up, especially if it’s related to your injury case. That’s because they may inadvertently share information that could be used against you.
Don’t: Delete Your Accounts or Posts
“This is an easy fix,” you tell yourself, “I’ll just delete any accounts or posts that could make me look bad.” If it were only that easy … Deleting your accounts or posts could be seen as an attempt to destroy or eliminate the evidence. Leave your accounts intact, even after you’ve set everything to private.
Do: Talk to Your Personal Injury Attorney in Wausau, WI
Still have questions? Your personal injury attorney in Wausau, WI can advise you on what to post, what to avoid, and how to protect your online presence. Make sure you’re open and honest with your attorney so they can provide you with the best guidance.
Courts didn’t have to deal with social media a few decades back, but that’s simply not the case these days. That’s why anyone involved in a court case should steer clear of social media as much as possible, as it could be used against them – and that goes for their family and friends, too!
Contact Bremer & Trollop Law Offices, S.C. for more details.
