If you’re pursuing a claim for damages after an accident, it’s good to know what personal injury lawyers advise about posting on social media. Insurance investigators and claims adjusters look online for information to use against you in order to win cases. Using the do’s and don’ts below might help you win your case and receive the money available for your claim.

Do:

Be selective about accepting friend requests from strangers.

Beware if someone you don’t know wants to friend or follow you on social media sites after your accident. By adding strangers as friends you might be giving away the right to a full financial recovery. These new “friends” might be investigators or attorneys digging for information.

Make sure your social media profiles are kept private.

Setting your profiles to private doesn’t make them completely inaccessible, but it reduces the chance of unwanted people obtaining your information. Personal injury lawyers say it’s best to stay off social media entirely until your case is finished. 

Assume deleted posts can be retrieved. 

In the digital universe, deleted doesn’t mean gone forever. Courts can hold social media posts as public records. Even when you delete damaging photos or comments, they can be retrieved electronically if a court orders it. 

Don’t:

Post about your case.

Don’t post information about conversations with your personal injury lawyer. Talking about matters such as the settlement amounts you’re seeking or your attorney’s trial strategy can destroy your right to assert the attorney-client privilege. You can put your entire case at risk with one post or email.    

Post about your physical condition.

Posting photos of you playing sports or dancing can ruin your claim for pain and suffering. Even if they’re not recent photos, your opponents can use them out of context in an attempt to reduce your claim’s value.

Let family members or friends post about your case or condition.

Family or friends might mean well by posting that you looked great a week after your accident. However, this online evidence makes it harder for your attorney to build a strong case. Ask them not to post anything until the case is closed. 

For nearly 19 years, The Law Office of Gregory G. St. John, LLC, has provided wise advice and effective legal representation in personal injury cases. Based in Waterbury, CT, the firm works with individuals throughout New Haven and Litchfield counties, helping them obtain the best outcome for their situation. If you are injured, stay off of social media and call a dedicated personal injury lawyer at (203) 759-0240. Go online now for details about the office’s practice areas.