Nowadays, social media plays an increasingly important role in our everyday lives. It’s common for us to share everything about our lives on these platforms to keep our friends and family up to date. A personal injury case, however, requires you to be more careful.
When you file a personal injury lawsuit, anything you post on social media could be used as evidence against you. You should keep your accounts private, avoid posting anything about your case, and, if possible, avoid posting anything at all. Here are a few rules to follow when it comes to social media and your personal injury lawsuit.
#1: Keep Your Accounts on Private
Nothing that you share online will ever be private. However, it is important to limit the visibility of your posts as much as possible. Set your accounts to private and change the audience of your posts or stories to friends or followers only.
By adjusting your social media privacy settings, you can prevent insurance company representatives or defense attorneys from viewing your content. Otherwise, these parties could use your posts as evidence against you.
#2: Do Not Accept New Friend Requests or Followers
While your lawsuit is in progress, you should avoid accepting new friend or follower requests. Although this practice is unethical (and often prohibited by the rules of professional conduct), some insurance representatives or defense attorneys may attempt to friend or follow parties in a lawsuit. You do not want these individuals from accessing your posts, so avoid accepting any requests while your lawsuit is pending—even if the profile looks like someone you know.
#3: Do Not Post Anything About Your Case Online
Even if you keep your accounts private, it is smart to avoid posting anything about your case online. Even the most innocent statements could be used against you at trial or during your claim.
To protect your case, you should resist the urge to share details of your accident or your lawsuit on social media. Do not post anything about your injuries or treatment. In addition, you should caution your friends and family members against discussing your case or tagging you in posts.
#4: Be Careful with Your Other Posts
If you are involved in a lawsuit, it is wise to avoid posting on social media at all. Anything you post could be used as evidence that your injuries are not as serious as you claim or that you are at fault for the accident. For example, if you suffered a back injury and post a photo of yourself on a hiking trip, the other side could claim that your injuries were not serious.
#5: Listen to the Advice of Your Personal Injury Lawyer
When it comes to posting on social media, you should always follow the advice of your personal injury lawyer. It is your attorney who knows your case best and is responsible for protecting your interests. Your lawyer will provide tailored guidance on what to post and what not to post.
If you don’t have an attorney and plan to file for personal injury, you should speak with one immediately. A Texas personal injury lawyer can guide you through every step of litigation and advocate for your right to maximum compensation. Get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible after your accident to discuss your rights and plan your next steps.
