Social Media Use And Injury Claims

More than 500 million people across the globe have an account on Facebook; chances are you may be one of them. Social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, are a great way to share your life with family and friends. Unfortunately, what you say on these sites can be used against you when filing an injury claim.

If you have recently sustained injuries caused by the actions or negligence of another party, you should immediately contact an injury attorney. Your attorney can begin investigating your injury claim and give you advice on how to use social media websites during this critical time.

Social Media as Court Evidence

You may have heard of divorce attorneys using Facebook messages to help their clients' cases. This is becoming increasing common in personal injury claims. Even privacy settings on the social media site may not protect you. In fact, a State Supreme Court recently ruled that a plaintiff in a personal injury case must give the defendant access to her Facebook and MySpace accounts, including any deleted information.

The goal of filing an injury claim is to recover damages for your injuries. This compensation takes into account your medical expenses (both past and future), loss of income, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life. While medical expenses and lost wages can be proven through medical bills and paystubs, proving pain and suffering and diminished quality of life is not as easily quantifiable.

By claiming pain and suffering or diminished quality of life, your injury attorney must help you prove that your life has been impacted in a negative way because of the action (or inaction) of the responsible party. However, if you post pictures of a party with your family or a recent vacation on social media sites, the defense may argue that you are exaggerating about the extent of your injuries and say that your life has not been affected in any way.

How to Use Social Media During an Injury Claim

Even the most innocent comments on your social media site could be used against you during an injury claim. It is for this reason that you should follow a few guidelines when using social media:

Do not discuss your case. After something as serious as sustaining an injury, it may feel natural to discuss your recovery and the progress of your case. However, an injury attorney would strongly advise against discussing your claim on a social media site.Be careful about the photos and comments you post. During the course of your personal injury claim, avoid posting frequent updates on your activities. Even tagging old photos after filing your claim could potentially be used against you. If your friends tag you in photos, utilize the site's "remove tag" feature. The rule of thumb is to not post anything that you wouldn't feel comfortable sharing in the courtroom.Consult with your injury attorney if you have any questions. Your attorney's number one goal is to ensure that you are compensated for your injuries. By discussing your social media site with an attorney, you can protect your injury claim and avoid any surprises in court.

Hiring an Injury Attorney for Your Injury Claim

After sustaining a personal injury, you have a number of things to worry about. Focusing on getting better should be at the top of your list. By hiring a skilled injury attorney, you do not have to worry about your injury claim.