3 Social Media Tips for Your Personal Injury Case
Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others can play a prominent role in most of our lives, and usage is rising. The Pew Research Center shares that social media usage increased nearly tenfold from 2005 to 2015. Social media can affect our lives in myriad ways. If you have been injured in an accident that was caused by someone else's negligence, your social media presence can take on an even more critical role. Consider the following tips regarding your personal injury case.
Tip One: Give the Socials a Pass
The fact is, if someone else's negligence has injured you, the insurance company handling your claim is going to be digging into your social media accounts. They do this because the information they can find is often considered evidentiary gold. We have all witnessed the severe fallout that often accompanies a seemingly innocent post that is interpreted in a manner that the author probably had not even considered in the first place. Entirely avoiding social media – including commenting on other people's posts – until your case is resolved is always in your best interest.
Tip Two: Remember that a Picture Tells a Story
Even if you have sworn off posting text, you may be tempted to share your latest photos. Even posting pictures is ill-advised until after your case has been finalized. Every image that you put up contributes to an overall story. Your personal injury claim focuses on your injuries. Photos you post could be used to downplay the seriousness of those injuries – even if there is no truth to this interpretation. The bottom line is that it is better to be safe than sorry by not providing any information to the insurance company in the first place.
Tip Three: Up Your Social Media Savvy
If you have been injured as the result of someone else's negligence, you should be rethinking your online presence for now, but it is also a good time to improve your social media savvy overall. Consider the following security-related suggestions:
Now is not the time to accept strangers as Facebook friends or as followers on other platforms. Any such stranger could be mining for information deemed pertinent to your claim.
Adjusting your privacy settings is a good idea. Many of us do not think much about these social media settings. While they by no means guarantee privacy, they are an excellent place to start.
There are also mechanisms in place that allow you to disallow other users' tags from attaching to your posts and that block other users from retweeting or sharing your posts.
All told, if you've been injured and are pursuing a personal injury case, now is time to reconsider your overall relationship with social media.
An Experienced Killeen Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard in Killeen, Texas, is well versed in helping clients like you avoid common personal injury pitfalls and obtain the compensation they could be entitled to. To learn more, please do not hesitate to contact us online or call us at 254-501-4040 today.