Are you a frequent user of social media? If you are reading this blog, chances are you have at least one social media profile. According to Pew Research Center, nearly 75 percent of Internet users frequent social media. Social media is a valuable tool for staying in touch with friends and family as well as connecting with others online, but social media can also be a bad thing. For example, social media can cause problems for you if you are pursuing a personal injury claim.
When you file an injury claim, the party that is liable will do everything in its power to limit the amount of damages it is required to pay – that’s just the way it works. And the other party’s attorneys know that social media is a veritable treasure trove of useful information that can undermine an injury claim.
How? It’s simple. Here’s an example. Delilah is driving in downtown Nashville and is T-boned at an intersection by a car that ran a red light. She suffers injuries to her legs and neck. When she files her injury lawsuit, she claims that her leg injuries prevent her from engaging in her nature photography hobby.
And yet, like clockwork, every few days, a new batch of photos shows up on Delilah’s Instagram. Sprawling hillside vistas, distant mountains, photos of Delilah and her husband enjoying a picnic by a creek. The timestamps don’t lie; clearly, Delilah was misrepresenting the severity of her injuries. The courts now have evidence to call into question Delilah’s entire claim, jeopardizing her potential damages.
Do yourself a favor if you are involved in a personal injury claim – be very careful what you do online.
Jeremiah 29:11, ”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”