How Sharing Information Over Social Media Can Ruin a Case

Social media has become a major part of our daily lives.  It allows us to share our thoughts, our feelings, our relationship status, and every private moment of our day with people all over the world.  People we know well and love deeply or people we don’t know at all and will never meet can become instantly connected to us through social media.

This powerful tool can be used to bring people together in ways they have never been able to before.  Social media is beneficial for business and personal promotion, but when it comes to a personal injury case, it can be dangerously destructive.

Can My Social Media Posts Be Used as Evidence Against Me in My Case?

Online posts, photos, and videos are being used more and more as evidence in court. What you post, when you post it, and where you post it from can all be used as evidence against you in your case, casting doubt on your injuries and your character.

Let’s say you claim to be severely injured in a car accident and are asking to be compensated financially for pain and suffering and a reduction in your quality of life.  If you continue posting pictures of yourself after the accident and appear to be enjoying a happy, healthy lifestyle, the opposing attorney can use these posts to tear apart your validity and discredit your character.  To a judge, this can look like you are exaggerating your story and your injuries, which can severely alter the outcome of your case.

How Do I Keep Social Media from Ruining My Case?

The best way to prevent social media from ruining your case is to avoid posting on social media as much as possible until your case is resolved.  While written posts are probably considered inadmissible, photos and videos are considered hard evidence.  And you can be sure these items will be used against you, should they appear in any way to discredit your version of what happened.

If you or someone you love has been the victim of an accident that caused injury and damages, an Omaha personal injury lawyer can help.  The experienced legal team at Welsh & Welsh understands the impact social media can have on a case.  We will work with you every step of the way to be sure than an innocent post on social media does not become damaging evidence that can come back to hurt you.  Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation of your case.