Is Social Media Hurting Your Personal Injury Claim?
Social media is everywhere these days, and many people don’t think twice about posting whatever comes to mind on Facebook or Twitter. Unfortunately, this can cause a lot of problems. Once something is posted online, it will always be there in some form. Even though you delete an insensitive tweet or compromising photo of yourself, what you said or did will still be available for all the world to see.
A lot has been said about how thoughtless Facebook posts have cost people jobs and relationships, but they can also easily ruin a personal injury claim even if you’ve hired the best Pittsburgh personal injury attorney you could find. If you’ve recently made a personal injury claim, here is what you should definitely avoid doing on social media.
Posting Photos of Physical Activity
It’s probably really unfair to judge someone based on one photo they share on Facebook or Instagram, but it happens all the time. If you claim that you’ve recently been injured, the last thing you want to post is a photograph of yourself performing some kind of physical activity. You might be able to get away with posting a picture of yourself exercising as part of your physical therapy, but pictures of your apparently able-bodied self at a friend’s party or on a rock climbing trip will hurt your case. Lawyers will look up your information, and they will use these photos as “proof” that you weren’t as seriously injured as you claim.
Discussing Your Injury or Claim
Posting about your injury – even if you’re doing nothing more than saying that you were injured – is usually a bad idea. Stating that you were injured or discussing how your injury happened seems innocent and harmless enough, but things can be taken out of context very easily and presented in a way that hurts your personal injury claim. Even setting your privacy settings so that only your friends can access your page may not be enough to keep someone from snooping around and using what you have to say against you. If you must use Facebook or some other social network to communicate with friends or family members, keep the details about your injury offline. If you can’t help saying something, try to be as vague as possible.
What You Can Do on Social Media
Many personal injury lawyers in Pittsburgh will suggest staying off of social media when you pursue a personal injury claim due to the many ways it can be used against you. If you simply cannot stay away from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other social network you may use, stick to reading updates from your friends. You can keep up with what is going on in your social circle without tweeting about everything that happens throughout your day. Stick to being a lurker while pursuing your claim, and consult a personal injury lawyer in Pittsburgh if you have any questions about your case or your social networks.
Finding an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer can make all the difference in your case. Make sure you work with a personal injury attorney who has what it takes to get your claim resolved promptly and effectively by contacting Goldberg, Persky, & White. As one of the largest personal injury law firms in Western Pennsylvania, you can rest assured knowing that your case is in good hands. With over 30 years of experience on our side, our team understands what it takes to aggressively defend your rights and get the compensation you deserve. If you or someone close to you has suffered serious injury through someone else’s negligence, contact Goldberg, Persky, & White today and let us help you through the complexities of your claim.
