You may have seen news stories across the internet discussing how family law attorneys warn their clients not to spend much time, if any, on social media during divorce and/or child custody proceedings. They give that advice because spouses are introducing evidence from each other’s social media accounts in court.
What many people may not realize is that this isn’t exclusive to family law matters. Using evidence from social mediaaccounts is growing in popularity across many areas of law, including in personal injury claims.
You file an insurance claim or lawsuit after a crash
If you suffered serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident caused by another driver, you will more than likely pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost income and other damages Florida law entitles you to under these circumstances. After all, your current medical condition could require a long recovery that will devastate your finances in the short-term. If your accident resulted in some sort of permanent or debilitating injury, your life may never be the same, and you could need lifelong medical care.
You file a claim with the other driver’s insurance company and/or a personal injury claim in a Florida civil court. As part of your case, you divulge the extent and nature of your injuries, the circumstances of the crash and what you feel your claim is worth based on your situation. Unfortunately, the other parties involved (especially the insurance companies) are typically not going to simply take your word for it and offer you a fair settlement that truly reflects your need for compensation.
Insurance companies will look at your social media
In fact, insurance companies will use whatever advantage they can get in order to increase the chances of denying a person’s insurance claim because they are in business to make money and not pay out claims when they can find a reason to avoid doing so. For this reason, you can count on someone trolling your social media accounts looking for anything to indicate a potential reason to deny your claim or otherwise derail your pursuit of restitution.
If you post anything about your accident or personal injury claim, it could end up used against you in court. Even a seemingly innocent post or photograph on social media could create the doubt needed in order to reduce your chances of receiving the compensation you seek. For this reason, an experienced personal injury lawyer will more than likely end up giving you the same advice that family law attorneys give their clients – stay off social media as much as you can during your claim process.