How Does Social Media Affect Your Lawsuit?
In today’s day and age social media often plays a large role in our lives. This is how we stay connected to friends, share our vacation photos, post updates about our lives, and much more. It is all too common for people to share every aspect of their lives on these platforms, and even post photos of their breakfast. However, if you are involved in a personal injury lawsuit it is vital to avoid posting on social media. As we all know, once you put something out on the internet it is no longer yours. In cyberspace that picture, comment, or post is out there for the whole world to see. Simply deleting the post does not guarantee that it is gone. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance not to share anything on any social media site for the duration of your case.
What Will Happen if I Post to my Social Media Account?
Anything posted on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter about the accident can and will be used against you by the defense. A post or picture may that differs your testimony or a written statement you have given. If you officially state that you are in too much pain to engage in physical activities, but then post a photo showing you exercising at the gym, dancing at a club, or playing a game of basketball, this will impact negatively on your credibility. Photographs are powerful comments on your physical condition.
Be extremely careful about what you post. Better yet, avoid posting at all. Advise your friends and family not to post pictures of you as well. A photo depicting you as being the picture of good health will diminish your prospects of monetary recovery. Social media at best will have no impact on your case, but it has the potential to very significantly lower the settlement value of your case.
Additionally, put all your accounts on private and be particularly vigilant against friendly new strangers that ask to friend you during your case. Even if your account is on private settings do not be lulled into the false sense of security that your account is invisible; the internet is by design not a private place, and posts seem to always have a way of making it to the public eye. As social media takes on a greater role in our lives, courts are more inclined to admit social media posts into evidence.
Don’t derail your case by using social media unwisely! Even postings not related to your accident can affect your case. Don’t think for a minute that trivial political comments might not have an adverse effect on the outcome of your case. Be hyper aware of what you and your friends are posting! When you abstain from social media you avoid the consequences of being ambushed during questioning at your deposition and trial as to what you have posted on your social media sites. Don’t let social media impair your prospects for a large settlement.