How Social Media Can Hurt Your Personal Injury Case

If you’ve been hurt in an accident and you are seeking compensation through a personal injury claim, it is important to be careful of what you share on social media. The other party’s insurance company will likely seek to deny or diminish your claim by scouring your social media profiles for evidence that proves you were to blame or are not as hurt as you claim.

What you post or what your family posts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other social media platforms can affect your case, so be extremely cautious and limit your social media activity as much as possible. To discuss your case and learn more about how social media can impact your personal injury claim, contact the skilled Gainesville accident attorneys of Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano P.A. today.

Why Do Social Media Posts Matter in a Personal Injury Claim?

Keep in mind that what you share on social media is not private, no matter how secure your settings are. While updating your status might be a part of your everyday life, a seemingly innocuous post could have a significant impact on your case.

Social media posts can be used as evidence against you, especially if:

You take responsibility for the accident or imply that you were negligent in some way.
You claim to be hurt, but your social media posts imply something different. (For example, you claim that you are seriously injured, but a social media post shows you dancing at a party, playing a sport, or participating in other physical activity.)
You are seeking compensation for mental anguish, but your social media feed shows you out with friends and family acting cheerful and happy.

What Not to Post on Social Media

As a general rule, you should refrain from all social media usage for the duration of your case. You specifically should not:

Post details about your case, especially the accident itself and your injuries
Post any photos or videos of your accident, your injuries, or anything about the case
Respond to comments made by others about your case

Remember to also tell your family members not to share information or post details about your case on their social media profiles. Investigators for the other side will not just review your accounts, they’ll also examine the accounts of those close to you.

Tips to Consider When Posting

If you must post to social media, be sure to remember these tips:

Be a “selective sharer.” Only post things that will have no impact on your case.
Consider how your post might affect your claim and err on the side of caution.
Be careful where you click. Even “liking” comments made by other people and other seemingly innocent activity on social media could be used against you.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Gainesville Now

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, it is crucial to have experienced legal counsel to help you avoid common pitfalls that could derail your injury claim. The Gainesville accident lawyers of Fine, Farkash & Parlapiano P.A. are committed to helping our clients every step of the way, and we will help you protect your claim and pursue the maximum amount of compensation possible.

Jack Fine

Mr. Fine was born in New York, New York, and was raised in the northeast, where he studied sociology at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. He then graduated with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1976. In law school, he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, was inducted into the Order of the Coif, and graduated in the top 10 percent of his class. Mr. Fine was admitted into the Florida Bar in 1976, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida in 1977, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida in 1991, and the United States Court of Appeals 11th Circuit in 1982.