The Risks of Social Media in Personal Injury Cases
In today’s connected world, social media plays a big part in our everyday lives. However, it is a big concern in personal injury cases. In almost every case, insurance companies, their teams of investigators and their lawyers work hard to find and check the social media accounts of the people making claims.
Judges usually don’t like these requests unless there are very good reasons. Many cases have shown that victims have a right to keep their online lives private. But the requests to access social media keep coming.
It may seem like accessing social media profiles is harmless but there are real dangers. Here are just three common dangers of social media in personal injury cases:
1. Misrepresentation of Injuries.
Be careful about what you post on social media – it can be used against you. Insurance companies look through all your social media accounts to find posts that could make your injuries seem less severe. It doesn’t matter if you posted before or after the injury; they are searching for anything that might cast doubt on your case. They often do this by taking posts out of context. Other times they will ignore posts that show how severe your injuries really are.
2. Billion-Dollar Tactics.
It’s disheartening to see how some massive insurance companies use their huge budgets to downplay real personal injury claims. They mock victims, make light of injuries, and question how much harm was actually suffered. These tactics aim to shape the opinions of potential jurors and limit the compensation victims might get.
3. Not Your Friend.
Believe it or not, investigators from insurance companies might try to add you as a friend on social media to access your information. Like a “peeping Tom,” they’ll go through your profile and posts looking for anything that can be used against you.
What Can You Do?
To protect yourself, make your social media profiles private. This way, only people you trust can see your personal updates, reducing the risk of misinterpretation. Never accept friend requests from someone you don’t know.
At Dixon Law Office, we fight against the misuse of social media. Our founder, G. Grant Dixon III, is often invited to speak on the topic. If you or a loved one is a victim in a car accident, work injury, medical malpractice, or another injury case, reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney right away. At Dixon Law Office, our team has been helping victims for over 30 years, successfully standing up against billion-dollar companies to secure the compensation our clients deserve. Call Dixon Law Office today at 708-354-9880, and let our team help you. Remember, “when everything goes wrong, we make it right.”
G. Grant Dixon III
Dixon Law Office