If you begin a lawsuit against somebody, you probably expect a reaction. However, the reaction may not be exactly what you expect.
You might expect the other parties to start analyzing your injuries. You might expect them to begin negotiations with you. However, what you might not expect is the extent to which they could start investigating you personally.
A semi-public record
Your social media accounts are published records of your life. Even if you attempt to limit the audience, the fact remains that your statements and other types of uploads leave your control the moment you post.
Under normal circumstances, this would probably not be a problem. In the context of a personal injury case, opposing counsel could twist or take out of context even your most carefully crafted statements.
A mixed message
One situation in which social media could damage personal injury case is in the negotiation of pain and suffering compensation. Specifically, posting photographs or statements that could imply you are not in great emotional and psychological pain could place question on your claims.
An unintentional transgression
It is generally wise to avoid making any type of social media post without consideration of the wider legal context. You have a right to free speech, but that might not apply to statements that cause material damage to other parties.
For many of our clients, pausing their social media accounts is a small price to pay. In fact, many also reduce their texting, email and other non-essential written communication activities. While this can be difficult, there are often other methods to handle any potential feelings of isolation and frustration — methods with a much lower risk of damaging a case.
