Social media has become a large part of many of our lives. We share everything from major life events to simple check-ins at locations around town. Many of us don’t even think twice before putting personal information online for all of our friends to see. Insurance adjusters and attorneys have picked up on this fact and may try to use any information you share against you in court.
The Basics
If you are in the middle of a legal battle following an accident of some kind, avoid posting anything about the case or your injuries. Your safest bet is to skip sharing any details that could possibly be related to your claim. Do not post photos, describe your injuries, or mention the accident at all.
Privacy Settings
Though your profiles may be private, it is possible that the opposing party could request information from your social media accounts to be released for them to use as evidence in their case against you. With that in mind, it’s best to make sure all of your account settings hide information from anyone who is not a “friend,” in order to make it more difficult to obtain information about you. Google yourself to see what kind of information may be available about you online and make changes as necessary. Be sure to communicate anything that concerns you about your online presence to your legal counsel.
Suspend Your Accounts
Though it may seem like an extreme response, we highly recommend suspending all of your social media accounts for the duration of your case. This will prevent the opposing counsel from getting their hands on anything you or your friends have posted that may work against you. Once the case is concluded you can unfreeze your accounts and get back to posting everything from your delicious meatball sub to the announcement of an engagement.
Call Hales & Associates, Attorneys
If you’ve suffered a personal injury and intend to bring a case against whomever injured you, you need to consult an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. We can get you the compensation you deserve and advise you every step of the way. Call us today at (951) 435-0842 to schedule your complimentary consultation.