What to Know about Social Media and Your Personal Injury Claim

What to Know about Social Media and Your Personal Injury Claim

Accidents are part of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that Americans make a collective 38 million injury-induced ER visits each year. If your injuries were caused by the negligence of another party, you have the right to seek compensation through a personal injury claim. Posting on social media while a personal injury claim is pending is a big mistake. Here, our Rolling Meadows personal injury attorney explains the essential things that you should understand about social media and your personal injury claim in Illinois. 

What You Post on Social Media Could Come Up in Your Personal Injury Claim

To start, it is imperative to emphasize that everything you post on social media is technically “public” information. When you file a personal injury claim, the insurance company or the other party’s legal team will likely investigate your case. Part of that investigation may include looking at your social media profiles and posts. They might try to find evidence that contradicts your account of the accident or your injuries. Even seemingly innocent posts, like photos of you at a party or on vacation, could be used to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.

You Should Adjust Your Privacy Settings—but That is Not a Surefire Solution

Many people assume that by adjusting their privacy settings, they can keep their social media posts hidden from the insurance company or the other party’s legal team. However, this is not always the case. Even if you have your profile set to private, there are ways that people can still see your posts. For example, if you accept a friend request from someone you do not know, they may be able to see your posts. Additionally, screenshots of your posts can be taken and shared with others. While adjusting your privacy settings can help, it is not a guarantee that your posts will be kept private.

Best Practice: Avoid Any Social Media Posts About Your Accident or Your Injuries

The best practice is to avoid making any posts about your accident or your injuries on social media. This includes posts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and any other social media platform. Even if you think your posts are private, they can still be used against you in your personal injury claim. Additionally, even if you are very careful about what you post, your friends and family members may post things about your accident or your injuries that you do not want shared. To be safe, it is best to avoid social media altogether while your personal injury claim is pending.

Schedule a Free Consultation With an Illinois Personal Injury Lawyer Today

At SAM LAW OFFICE LLC, our Illinois personal injury attorneys are committed to helping injured victims secure the maximum financial compensation. If you or someone you know was seriously hurt in an accident, please contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. From our Rolling Meadows law office, we represent injured victims in Cook County and throughout Northern Illinois.