Facebook has been in the news lately regarding safety concerns of profile information. Therefore, it is an appropriate time to review the risks of using social media accounts, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others, when you are involved in a personal injury claim.
Risks of Social Media Posts During a Personal Injury Case
As most of us already know, anything we post online has the potential of becoming public. Regardless of the personal profile settings or security settings on your online accounts, the things you post online could be discovered and used against you in your car accident case. For example, posting pictures of your vacation while you are claiming to be injured from a traffic accident may not go over well with a group of jurors.
You might not be doing anything your doctor advised you not to do, or you might have been in significant pain during the trip, but a jury will only see you enjoying a wonderful time on your vacation. Unfortunately, it is true what they say about pictures — a picture is worth a thousand words. Just one picture could undo hours of testimony about the severity of your injuries.
Tips for Using Social Media After a NoLA Accident
Do not use social media! That is the best tip our New Orleans attorneys can offer. However, we understand that you may not want to give up your social media accounts for the entire time your personal injury claim is pending. Therefore, these tips could help you avoid online mistakes that could hurt your chance of recovering full compensation for your damages.
- Avoid posting any pictures. You should also set security settings to prevent being tagged in pictures posted by family and friends.
- Do not comment on your traffic accident, your injuries, or your recovery.
- Avoid comments on your health or how you are “feeling.” A simple reply that you are “great” or “feeling fine” could be misconstrued.
- Do not discuss financial matters, including loss of income or medical bills from your accident.
- Avoid sharing or reposting comments or images.
- Review your security settings on a regular basis to ensure all settings are at the highest privacy level available.
- Search your name online and notify your attorney if anything appears in the search results, especially about the car accident.
Remember, a defense attorney understands the power of social media. Many insurance investigators and defense attorneys routinely search for online information about injury victims. However, do not assume your information will remain private, even with the highest security level. Courts in some states have ruled in favor of defense attorneys who request access to social media accounts. Your information could be made available to the defense, even if they cannot access it online.
New Orleans Car Accident Attorneys Helping Victims Recover Money for Claims
If you have questions about an accident claim and social media, call our office. We offer free consultations for accident victims and their families throughout New Orleans.
Contact Attorney Fred Olinde of The Olinde Firm by calling (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to request a free consultation with a New Orleans accident attorney.