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In our world of technology, social media has become a phenomenon of staggering proportions. It is estimated that nearly 76 percent of all people in Ontario engage in some form of social media today. Social media has allowed us to connect on a larger scale than ever before. But when it comes to a personal injury claim, social media can work against you.
Sharing Your Personal Life Can Be to Your Detriment
When you post on social media sites, you are essentially laying out your personal life for the public to see. There are instances when public perception does not match what your original intent was for the post. And insurance companies and lawyers love this when attempting to deny or downplay injury claims.
Evidence That Can Work Against You
When you file a claim for an injury, evidence plays a key role in the amount of your settlement or compensation. As a matter of course, if the insurance company wants to save money by denying your claim, they have an easy way of proving that your injury may not be as devastating as you have portrayed in your claim. If you are seeking compensation for pain and limited mobility and you post photos of yourself water skiing on vacation, you are handing the insurance company ample evidence to discredit your claim.
In a tort claim, it is also common for defense lawyers to use these posts in order to contradict an injury claim. In 2015, there was a case where the British Columbia Supreme Court denied a woman a substantial compensation due to photos she had posted on her social media. These photos showed herself out partying with friends after she had claimed that her injuries had made her depressed and a virtual shut-in.
A Narrow Snapshot
Using social media posts is still somewhat controversial as it only provides a very narrow snapshot of someone’s life. Some judges have become cautious of using these posts as evidence. Insurance companies and defense lawyers must be able to show that there is relevance to the posts in order for social media posts to be admissible. Then it is up to a judge to make the decision. By why take that chance?
Even the Most Innocent Posts Can Be Harmful
Injury victims need to be mindful of what they post to social media and how it can be perceived. This can be anything from information about the claim or injury itself to information or photos of you engaged in activities that your claim says you can no longer engage in, both physically or emotionally.
While it is reasonable to expect that some may want to post to social media after a life-changing event such as an accident, it is important to understand that this can have unintended consequences. Although you may think what you’re posting is insignificant, it may prove detrimental to your claim. The best course of action is to limit social media engagement as much as possible after an accident.
If you have been injured in an accident, call the North Bay personal injury lawyers at BLFON Personal Injury Lawyer. We will represent your legal interests after an accident resulting in injuries. Call us for a free consultation.