One of the first pieces of advice that personal injury attorneys give new clients is to be very careful with social media. It’s natural to turn to your friends and followers for support after a traumatic accident, but doing so could end up jeopardizing your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve. Sometimes the best solution is to temporarily deactivate your accounts. Here are just a few potential consequences of staying active online while your case is pending. 

3 Ways Social Media Can Hinder Your Personal Injury Case

1. It Could Lead to a Damages Dispute

Monitoring social media profiles is one of the most common strategies that insurance adjusters use to devalue claims. If you post a photo of yourself at an outing with friends, for example, the insurance company’s attorney will argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. In such a scenario, they would then have considerable negotiating power to deny at least some of the damages you are seeking.  

2. It Could Lead to a Liability Dispute 

Personal injury claimants have an obligation to mitigate damages. For example, they must seek medical care in a timely fashion and follow their doctor’s orders once they do. If social media posts indicate that you are doing anything but resting—even if you’ve been cleared for gentle physical activity—the insurance adjuster will claim you are partially liable for the severity of your injuries. Since South Carolina follows a modified comparative fault rule, this could reduce the total amount of compensation to which you are entitled. 

3. It Could Inform the Opposing Party of Your Next Move 

Personal injury attorneys must often warn clients that it’s fairly easy to talk about their case inadvertently. For example, even if you don’t publish a post titled “My Legal Strategy,” the opposing party may be able to glean clues from your other posts—or your friends’ posts—about the case. Therefore, it’s best to keep everything from doctor’s appointments to meetings with your lawyer off social media. Since so much speculation can muddy the waters, the best course of action is often to stay away from your online accounts entirely until the case is resolved.

If you want to file a personal injury claim in South Carolina, reach out to the Law Offices of Adrian L. Falgione LLC. Based in Lexington, this firm is led by a compassionate personal injury attorney who understands the emotional, physical, and financial impact of getting seriously hurt. Since 1989, Attorney Falgione has been helping accident victims and their loved ones pursue the compensation they need to make their lives whole again. Medical malpractice, nursing home abuse, and motor vehicle collisions are just a few of his areas of expertise. To schedule your first meeting with this strategic personal injury attorney, call (803) 957-6543 or complete the online form.