The Dangers of Using Social Media Posts During a Greenville Personal Injury Case

If you have been involved in a personal injury case in Greenville, South Carolina and are seeking compensation for your injuries, you should be very wary of what you post on social media. If you have posted something on social media and are worried about how it may affect your personal injury case, contact a lawyer at Fulton & Barr in Greenville, South Carolina today to discuss if the posts will have an effect on your case and what you can do about it.

How Will My Social Media Posts Affect My Personal Injury Case in Greenville, South Carolina?

Social media is used worldwide on countless platforms. Many people use it to document their daily lives without much of a thought. What many people don’t know is that anything you post publicly on social media can legally be used against you because it is considered public record. This means public posts on social media can be used as evidence in trial.

If you have been injured in Greenville, South Carolina and are currently involved in a personal injury case, the defendant can use your social media posts against you if the content you post does not corroborate the claims you are making.

For example, if you comment or post about being even somewhat at fault for a car accident, those posts can be used against you. If you are seeking compensation for a car accident injury, this could be a huge detriment to your case. This is because South Carolina carries a comparative negligence system, which means that even if you were partially at fault for the accident, the other person can seek compensation. In the event that you were more than 50% responsible for the accident, you cannot receive any type of compensation.

In addition to this, investigators can use photos, status updates, comments, and more to claim that you are not actually hurt or downplay your injuries.

The defendant’s insurance provider or attorney will likely investigate and monitor your social media accounts in search for something that may help their case. This is why it is in your best interest to shutdown or suspend all of your social media accounts altogether if you have been involved in a personal injury case, as investigators and insurance adjusters can take posts you write out of context to build their own case against you.

Both your past, current and future posts on social media can have an effect on your case and be used as evidence to show that damages in your personal injury case are not as serious as you claim them.

What Should I Do About Comments or Photos I have Already Posted?

Your lawyer may advise you to remove them, however if a suit has already been filed, legally you may not be able to delete the content without facing legal repercussions. This is why you should speak to a personal injury attorney in Greenville, South Carolina before removing any type of social media content.

How Should I Handle Social Media During My Personal Injury Case?

You should proceed with caution when using any social media during your personal injury case and follow these guidelines:

• Avoid or refrain from social media altogether. If possible, suspend or privatize your accounts.
• Be extremely cautious about the photos, comments, and status updates you post.
• Do not post frequently.
• Do not post anything you would not feel comfortable sharing or explaining in a courtroom.
• Do not speak badly about the other party and their insurance provider.
• Do not post about the accident.
• Be cautious of who your audience is.
• Do not discuss your injuries.

Remember, insurance adjusters, lawyers, and investigators know how to use social media. They will do everything they can to take your social media posts out of context to shed a negative light on your case and challenge your story and injuries.

Reach Out to a Personal Injury Lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina Today

If you are unsure of how your social media posts can affect your personal injury case, contact a lawyer at Fulton & Barr in Greenville, South Carolina today to help you understand how you should handle social media at this time. Our lawyers can help protect your rights and get you the compensation you are entitled to. We will give you advice on how to handle your social media and will also educate you about how the defendant may use any social media posts against you during your personal injury case.

Contact our personal injury lawyers in Greenville, South Carolina today to help guide you through how to use social media while preparing for a case.