Don't let social media mess up your injury claim

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After I had an accident and had to spend some time in the hospital, I decided that it was time to make a will and do some estate planning. After all, you never know what is around the corner, and I would hate for a family member to miss out on inheriting from me if I were to suddenly pass away. I worked with a lawyer to draft a will. We then discussed the various ways I could arrange my estate. I had been worried that I wouldn’t understand the different legal terms, but my lawyer took the time to carefully explain them. I am now much happier knowing that everything is in place. I decided to set up this blog to offer tips to other people who are in the process of planning their estate.

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Don't let social media mess up your injury claim

25 January 2017
 Categories: Law, Blog


When a lot of people file a personal injury claim, they aren't aware that the defense attorneys can visit their profiles on Facebook and other social networking sites. Many people have a fascination with sharing whatever happens in their lives with the online world and the lawyers know this all too well. As a result, this is one of the first places they will conduct their investigation in order to ascertain whether or not your injury is fake or find mismatching statements with a view of punching holes into your claim. As a victim of a personal injury, hiring a personal injury lawyer will help you know how to conduct yourself in respect to Facebook and other social media sites.

How your online activities can jeopardize your personal injury claim

Particular statements posted on your Facebook page can prove that you are engaging in activities that only those unharmed can succeed in doing. For example, let's assume you posted a picture of yourself in the gym carrying all manner of weights while your personal injury claim is on trial. Basically, the picture may prove that your injuries are not as severe as alleged since you are able to even attend gym sessions.

Another example is when a person has survived a nasty road accident and they are narrating the events to family and friends on Facebook. They person posting the information may wish to placate their family and friends by explaining away the injuries sustained from the accident. These statements are distorted and can be used by the insurance adjusters and defense legal counsel against the victim given that it purports the full extent of the injuries sustained was not as severe as alleged in the claim. At this point, a simple online update may turn into a weapon to be used against the victim seeking compensation for medical treatment following a genuine accident.

Suggested action in the course of personal injury claims

By hiring a personal injury lawyer to help you with your claim, the victim may be first instructed to remain inactive on Facebook and other social networking sites. In case the social networking sites must remain active, a number of guidelines ought to be adhered to in order to alleviate possible loss in the injury claim. The victim may be told not to accept any strange friend requests unless they know the persons individually. No written post should be posted for the online audience regarding the details of the injury. No online chat, videos or pictures showing the extent of the victim's injuries should be relayed or exchanged online. To steer clear of potential predicaments with social media, injury victims should always listen to the advice of their attorneys.