How Social Media Affects Personal Injury Cases

Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. It connects us with old friends and helps us make new ones, but while it is great to share important moments of your life, sharing accidents may not be so advised.

No matter what your privacy settings are, nothing you post on the internet is private. In a personal injury case, this can be used against you. Take for example the case that was filed by Reverend Al Sharpton’s daughter, Dominique Sharpton. It became a famous case not for the $5 million in damages she sued New York City for after spraining an ankle on a city street, but because of how the city rebuked the claim. Shortly after filing her suit, lawyers found an Instagram photo she took of her hiking to the top of a mountain on a day hike, an event that happened after the injury.

This marked the dawn of using social media to refute personal injury claims. If you have been in an accident, silence is golden on social media. Like employers, lawyers have the right to bypass your privacy settings and look at everything you post to prove their case. If you are seeking damages, it is best to withhold your statuses, leave no check-ins on Foursquare, and especially post no photos. They will hurt your case.

If you were injured and believe you are entitled to damages, not only should you stay off social media, but you will need a good lawyer to represent you. Contact us today for everything from representation to legal advice.