Like it or not, countless aspects of your day-to-day life will be heavily scrutinized if you ever file a personal injury claim or lawsuit. When a large sum of money is at stake, you can bet that the defendant will pull out all the stops to minimize the money they may have to pay you.
If you are not careful about what you post on your social media accounts, you might inadvertently put your potential payout in a precarious position. Below, we will go over some ways you can responsibly handle social media and help avoid weakening your personal injury case.
Don’t Post Anything About the Case
We understand that most people use social media for updating friends and family on important things going on in their lives. If you suffered a serious injury and are fighting for compensation, that is probably the most important thing in your life at the moment. Still, it is best not to discuss any details about your case. That includes your own posts and comments on others’ posts. The defendant will not hesitate to twist your words and make it appear as if you admitted, for instance, that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
To be extra careful, you should also avoid posting anything about how you’re feeling, physically or otherwise. If, for example, you post that your back is feeling much better after taking a heavy dose of pain medicine, the defendant may zero in on the “much better” part and ignore the context surrounding the post. Even posting about something as benign as socializing with friends can come back to haunt you.
Change Your Privacy Settings
Some of your social media accounts may be set to public, which allows just about anyone to see your posts, pictures, and other content. As soon as you are able, you should change settings so that only your approved friends and followers can view your profile. This will make it more difficult for the defendant to catch compromising content.
It will not, however, make that task impossible for the other side. In civil suits, the discovery phase allows each side to request certain information and documentation that may be relevant to the case. Your private social media posts may be discoverable if the defendant requests them.
Don’t Delete Content
Is it a good idea to delete posts you have already made and pictures you have already posted? You should consult your attorney before doing anything, but the answer is usually no. Once a plaintiff files a lawsuit, both parties are obligated to preserve documents, communications, and other relevant content. Deleting posts can severely damage your case and make it exceedingly difficult to receive damages.
Consult with an Experienced Texas Attorney About Your Case
The advice provided in this blog post does not cover everything you should know about managing social media use while a lawsuit is pending. Every personal injury case is unique. The period after suffering a serious personal injury is a challenging time, and you deserve an attorney who will fight for everything you deserve.
Attorney Trevor Beaty crafts a personalized strategy for each client and is not afraid to take a case to trial. You can rest assured that with Beaty Legal as your representation, your interests and goals are your attorney’s top priorities. Reach out to Trevor today for your free consultation.
