The Perils of Social Media During a Personal Injury Case

Like most people, you probably use a mobile device when you need to search for something online. In fact, you’re probably reading this article on your smartphone right now. It’s even possible you ended up here as a result of doing a quick Google search—"top law firm Los Angeles"—merely a few seconds ago. But just as fast as the internet can deliver information we need, it can also cause damage by exposing aspects of our personal lives. Some people might consider it an invasion of privacy when social media accounts are accessed during a lawsuit, but this is why you need to contact a personal injury law firm after an accident. From the time you were in an accident until the moment you realize you might need a lawyer, it’s very likely you could incriminate yourself without even knowing it.

In this article, we want to provide you with some useful information so you understand why you need a lawyer after being involved in an accident. We don’t want to bombard you with a plethora of information, but we do want you to remember two things:

You can always contact an attorney at Yepremyan Law Firm for 24/7 support.

Don’t post anything on social media, avoid commenting, and disable tag options.

How Social Media Can Impact a Personal Injury Case

Let’s consider the following scenarios to understand how social media can impact a personal injury case:

Scenario #1

You’re on your way to pick up your kids from school when you get rear-ended at a stoplight. You and the other driver get out, make sure everyone is okay, and examine the damage. There’s no time to file a police report since you’re rushing to pick up your kids. You tell the other driver your insurance company will contact him. A few hours later, you join your buddies for a drink. It’s Taco Tuesday, so you order a couple of pitchers of beer. Throughout the night, your friend posts photos on Facebook and tags everyone. The next morning you wake up and realize your neck hurts. You go see a doctor later that day and it’s confirmed you suffered an injury from the accident.

Scenario #2

You slip and fall in a clothing store. An employee who was just mopping the floor forgot to place a caution sign. The managers hover around you, apologizing profusely while trying to gauge your reaction. Will you threaten to sue if you’re badly injured? But since you’re a trooper, you stand up right away and tell them you’re fine. You’re a little rattled, but you try to shake it off. Your friend finds out what happened and tells you to meet her at her new yoga studio, where she can balance your chakras. To support her business and boost her social media, you do a quick check-in before you put your phone away to enjoy your holistic session. The next morning you wake up in pain. Your lower back hurts and your wrist is swollen—it’s definitely sprained.

Why You Need a Lawyer After Being Involved in an Accident?

Now, let’s imagine you suffered serious injuries in either scenario mentioned above and have plenty of evidence to file a lawsuit. Let’s also imagine that you’ve hired the best law firm in the US to get you the compensation you deserve. What do you think might happen when the defense starts digging through your social media accounts? An insurance adjuster will question if you were driving drunk before the accident. A law firm representing a large chain retailer will have no problem convincing a jury that you proceeded to take a yoga class right after you claim you suffered a horrible injury. This is why you need a lawyer.  At this point, you probably have several questions, such as how long does a lawsuit take to settle? You don’t have to take an indefinite hiatus from social media after an accident, but you should speak with a lawyer who can explain privacy laws and personal injury cases. Our experienced attorneys at Yepremyan Law Firm have been representing clients since 1998 and have helped thousands of clients recover millions of dollars. Speak with one of our personal injury attorneys and let us know how we can help you.

*No Legal Advice Intended. This website includes general information about legal issues and developments in the law. These materials have been prepared for general informational purposes only and are not intended to be legal advice. Please consult an attorney for legal advice pertaining to any particular legal matter. Use of and access to this website or any of the links or resources contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader, user, or browser and Yepremyan Law Firm and any of its attorneys, employees, or associates.