- January 10, 2020
- Posted by: Robert Katz
- Category: Personal Injury
Given the billions of people online and the relative permanency of one’s internet activity, refraining from the discussion of your personal injury case on social media should be a no-brainer. That said, for plaintiffs and their loved ones in need of a few reasons to stay off social media during any lawsuit and its potential recovery process, there are many benefits to avoid talking about your case and its details on social media.
Anything You Post May Be Used Against You
Tweets, YouTube videos, Instagram posts, and Facebook messages—essentially, anything you post on social media—may be used against you in a court of law. Defendants’ attorneys now scour the internet for information that might bolster their defense, if not sink a plaintiff’s case, against their client. We would advise all personal injury plaintiffs to be cautious during their cases and recovery processes by limiting conversations with friends and family to face-to-face meetings. Also, whether you are in litigation or not, changing your online privacy by adjusting your settings across all accounts to ensure maximum security would be wise, but this is especially true if you are in the middle of a lawsuit for personal injury.
Everything You Post Will Be Misconstrued
Even an innocuous social media reply could be misconstrued and presented by the defense as an admission on your part of there being little to no damages. Further, your friends or family could tag you in an innocent photo, in which your slight but sincere smile could be perceived as proof of there being no injury. Any off-the-cuff remarks referring to the person who caused injury would certainly be presented as evidence for the defense of you, the plaintiff, acting out of spite.
You Should Be Taking a Load Off, Plaintiff
You have been personally injured, we presume legitimately. So, unplugging and healing should take priority over posting on your social media accounts. You need rest and to decompress from the stress that litigation brings. But, if your personal injury case involves potential damages for lost wages or pain and suffering, do not book an adventure vacation and share a buddy’s video of you handily scaling a mountain during your time off from work.
The world is addicted to social media, and you are likely active on social media as well. Trust your personal injury lawyer serving Philadelphia, PA when we reiterate that talking about your personal injury case online is always a terrible idea that could lead to you losing on your day in court.