Personal Injury Cases & Social Media

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident, the main priority is obtaining medical attention for any person who suffers injuries in the accident. The next step should be to meet with a personal injury attorney and discuss the event to determine if you have any rights to compensation resulting from the accident. In 2022, one of the first steps taken by individuals involved in a motor vehicle accident is the use of social media to publicize the experience. However, if you are involved in any type of accident, you must be cautious about what you share on social media as this dissemination of information may come back to haunt you in your legal case.

While most people involved in accidents will wisely follow this course of action in 2022, more than a few will go on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or some other social media platform to share the details of the accident. Unfortunately, depending on the shared information, these personal expressions in the form of social media posts may affect a personal injury case and jeopardize any chance to recover compensation.

Social media may provide evidence that either substantiates or contradicts an injury that a plaintiff asserts as resulting from an accident. Photographs of conduct indicating pain-free activity may weaken personal injury claims. Posts that show intoxication or reckless behavior may also damage a personal injury case.

Another important legal issue that social media posts may affect is the attorney-client privilege. Never post or share information on social media that the attorney-client privilege would otherwise protect. Using social media or even email to communicate with your attorney may compromise the privilege.

If you settle your case do not announce your victory on social media. Settlement agreements typically contain confidentiality terms that may not be shared through social media. If you post something about your case, you may violate the confidentiality provisions of the settlement agreement and subject yourself to sanctions by the court that heard and decided your matter.

Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys monitor social media and seek information about social media accounts during the discovery phase of personal injury litigation. Personal injury plaintiffs, both potential and actual, must take certain precautions regarding the use of social media. Never share the details of any type of event that may have legal consequences, especially a car accident. An even better course of action is to deactivate all social media accounts until a case reaches its true conclusion. Never discuss the accident online in any chat room, forum, blog, or post. What you post or share, as well as text or email, may be used against you in your personal injury case.

If you have suffered an injury in any type of accident, and another party is responsible for this harm, you have a right to compensatory damages for your losses. The personal injury attorneys at Moss Bollinger can help you assert your valuable right to compensation. Moss Bollinger is dedicated to protecting and asserting the rights of our clients. Call (310) 982-2291 today for a free consultation or contact us online.