Frequently Asked Questions About Social Media and Your Oregon Personal Injury Claim
Social media is so ingrained in our lives that most of us do not think twice before sharing every little thing that happens during the day with our family, friends, and even complete strangers via Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, or similar online forums. If you have recently been hurt in an accident, however, you need to stop and think before posting anything that might affect your ability to seek compensation in a personal injury lawsuit or insurance settlement.
With that in mind, here are some basic questions we often get about social media usage and personal injury cases. This is not legal advice, but rather common-sense tips for protecting yourself should the need arise.
Could My Social Media Posts Be Used as Evidence Against Me in a Personal Injury Case?
Yes! One of the first things that an insurance adjuster or defense attorney will do is scour the plaintiff’s social media feeds to look for anything that might contradict their account of what happened or the extent of their injuries.
Should I Post Anything About My Accident to Social Media?
In general, you should avoid saying anything specific about your accident or your injuries for the reason cited above. Indeed, it is often a good practice to limit your overall social media activity until your personal injury claim is resolved. Even something seemingly innocuous could still be misconstrued and used to undermine your personal injury claim.
What If I Turn My “Privacy” Settings On?
Most social media networks have some feature that allows you to mark posts “private” and restrict who can see them. You might be tempted to turn these settings on and resume your normal posting activity. Keep in mind, however, that privacy settings do not create an impenetrable barrier. For one thing, other people in your feed may share and spread your posts to their own followers, which can still attract the attention of a defense attorney or insurance company. This being said, you should absolutely set your accounts to the highest level of privacy.
I’ve Already Posted About My Accident. Should I Remove Those Posts?
No! Deleting material that you previously posted can get you into trouble later. The defendant or their insurance company may claim you were trying to “destroy” evidence that was harmful to your case. So if you have already posted something with respect to your accident or injuries, do not delete them without first consulting a qualified Portland personal injury attorney.
Contact a Portland Personal Injury Lawyer Today
The best thing you can do following a car accident or similar event where you sustained a serious injury is to say as little about it as possible publicly, whether on social media or offline, until you have first met with an experienced Portland personal injury attorney who can review your case and explain to you the process of seeking compensation from the responsible parties. Contact Rosenbaum Law Group, PC, today at 503-288-8000 to schedule a free consultation.
