Can Social Media Posts Affect My Personal Injury Case?
If you are currently in the middle of a personal injury lawsuit, it is critical that you take steps to protect yourself. You may know not to speak with the insurance company, but many injury victims find themselves in hot water when their social media posts are brought up and used against them in their personal injury lawsuit.
When this happens, you might be caught off guard. For that reason, you need to be responsible on social media and avoid the potential fallout of social media posts that could be misconstrued or taken out of context.
Make sure you have an experienced personal injury attorney at Reeves & Mestayer to ensure your social media posts aren’t used to diminish your personal injury settlement.
The Influence of Social Media Posts on Your Personal Injury Settlement
Many people post on social media without thinking about the consequences that it could have. But when you have been involved in an accident and are posting on social media, you can expect the defense to attempt to use your posts against you.
In the worst circumstances, it is possible that the post that you have made could contradict the details that were provided to the insurance company or the court in your case. For example, if you posted pictures, videos, or locations online, these posts could be misconstrued and attempt to show that you have exaggerated the extent of your injuries.
Another risk that you run in posting on social media is that the defense could attempt to use your social posts to explain how your injuries occurred, despite the fact that the liable party named in your case is at fault. For example, maybe you posted videos or photos of a hike you took only to suffer serious injuries in a car accident several days later, the defense may attempt to make it appear as though your injuries occurred while hiking as opposed to in the car accident.
There are several things that can happen if the defense attempts to use your social media post against you. First, the insurance company may attempt to use this as evidence to deny you an insurance settlement. If this happens, it may be difficult to win your case in court as well.
It is also possible that the defense will attempt to use your social posts to make it appear as though you share more fault for your injuries than you do. Since Mississippi is a pure comparative negligence state, the liable party will be able to get away with paying you less than you would otherwise deserve if they can prove you share fault for causing your injuries through your social media posts. For this reason, it is imperative that you take action to protect yourself and your injury settlement.
Steps to Take on Social Media When You’re in The Middle of a Personal Injury Lawsuit
The best thing you can do for yourself if you are involved in a personal injury lawsuit is to be safe on social media. It is important that you take certain precautions when posting on social media, including:
- Not posting about insurance claims or negotiations
- Not posting about being in an accident
- Not posting any videos or images of your injuries
- Not posting videos or images of the accident or incident
- Not sharing memes that are indicative of your emotional state
- Denying friend requests of people you do not know personally
- Asking family to not post anything about your accident or injuries
It should also be noted that it may not be in your best interest to delete content that has already been posted to your social media profiles. It could work against you in the insurance negotiations or in court. Instead, if you have concerns over certain social media posts, reach out to your attorney to further discuss what steps you should take, if any.
Get Help from a Personal Injury Lawyer in Mississippi
Social media posts can be used against you in almost any area of your life. But when you are dealing with a personal injury case, posts taken out of context could have a devastating impact on your injury settlement.
Take steps to protect yourself by retaining a dedicated Mississippi personal injury lawyer to represent your interests. Contact Reeves & Mestayer to get started on your case today. Fill out our online contact form or call our office at 1-855-558-2977 for your free, no-obligation consultation.
