Social media platforms have become integral parts of modern life, with many people using them to stay in touch with loved ones. After a serious accident, posting about your experience online may seem natural. However, sharing this content can impede your ability to collect compensation for your losses. Below are a few reasons personal injury attorneys urge their clients to stay off social media until after the resolution of their cases.

How Social Media Impacts Personal Injury Cases

1. Posts Are Public Information

The attorneys for insurance companies can access social media content and use it against you during a hearing, as the courts consider the posts part of the public record. If your account is private, they can sometimes still access it, as well as material that people in your network post. For example, if a friend posts about how well you’re recovering from the injury, the opposing attorneys can argue for a reduced payment. Your social media presence may feel like a private space, but anything you post can be evidence in court.

2. Injuries Can Be Discredited

Insurance companies may scour your social media posts, looking for anything that can prove that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. For instance, they can take photos of your children in the park out of context to show that you’re capable of enjoying life, even if the outing was a rare occurrence. They may also use photos of you being out with your friends at a restaurant as evidence that your injuries are not as severe as you claim so that their client avoids responsibility.

3. Discrepancies Hurt Your Case

Insurers will also seize on any conflicting information between your official statement and material you post online. For instance, you may omit a detail in a comment thread that proves the insurer is liable for your damages. Or you might make a statement to a friend that the insurance company can take as an admission of responsibility. To avoid these issues, most personal injury attorneys recommend staying off social media until after the case, as well as asking loved ones to avoid posting about your injuries.

For 15 years, the personal injury attorneys at Kirksey Law Firm LLC have been fighting for the rights of accident victims throughout southern Missouri, from Stone to Gasconade County. If you’ve been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, their team will provide the legal expertise and aggressive representation that you need. For more information about their personal injury attorneys, visit the website. Call (417) 326-4529 to schedule a consultation.