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How social media can affect a personal injury claim

On Behalf of | Dec 26, 2024 | Personal Injury |

People hurt in car crashes or similar incidents may need to file lawsuits. Even when the party at fault has insurance, the insurance company may not offer a reasonable settlement. Litigating is sometimes the best option for covering costs generated by the negligence or misconduct of another person.

A lawsuit can result in a better insurance settlement or in a court order awarding the plaintiff compensation for their losses. However, seemingly minor choices made by those with significant injuries can have major consequences.

Social media is a powerful tool that people can misuse in a personal injury scenario. If they make the wrong choices, they may harm their chances of securing compensation.

How social media can help

There are a few ways that connecting to others on social media can be beneficial after suffering a major injury. People can research how others manage their symptoms. They might also be able to use local social media groups to identify witnesses as they gather evidence.

For the most part, gathering information from others is often the only beneficial activity on social media related to a pending injury claim. Sharing anything online can be a risk.

How social media can hurt a plaintiff

The unfortunate reality is that most of the time, social media use during a personal injury lawsuit is damaging for the plaintiff. Anything they share online can potentially become evidence for the other party.

Posting positive messages or smiling pictures might lead to the defendant claiming that someone hasn’t sustained major injuries or experienced a reduction in their quality of life. Sharing information about injuries or the incident that led to the injury could compromise the case as well.

Even things shared in private groups or direct messages can end up used as evidence by the other party in a lawsuit scenario. The right of discovery permits the other party to request relevant records, including someone’s social media activity.

Often, those preparing for personal injury litigation need to avoid all mention of their injury and pending legal action online. They may want to deactivate their social media accounts or cease using them until they resolve the issue.

Understanding how social media can impact a lawsuit after a car wreck can help people avoid common mistakes. People who make informed decisions about their conduct online may be able to limit the evidence that others may try to use against them in court.

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