Social media is inescapable in today’s society. While the number and kinds of social media platforms change every year, the effect that they can have is enormous. As these sites have grown in popularity, more people share personal information with their “friends” and “followers” than ever before. In most circumstances, sharing occasions in your life on social media sites is not a problem. However, if you are involved in a personal injury case, what you post can affect whether you win or lose. As social media has grown, prosecutors and civil attorneys search clients’ or opponents’ social media for useful information. The information posted there, while seemingly innocent at the time, might have a detrimental effect on the status of your case.
Expert Advice And Representation In Personal Injury Cases
Being involved in a personal injury case can be challenging. There are a variety of legal proceedings and expectations involved. Navigating those circumstances on your own can be intimidating. However, having an experienced personal injury attorney can make those circumstances easier to handle and increase your chances of success. The lawyers at Dozier Law have over 50 years of combined personal injury experience. They will help you navigate the complicated legal proceedings to protect you and your interests. For more information or to set up your free case consultation, give us a call at (888) 239-2129 or contact us online.
How Does What I Post On Social Media Affect My Personal Injury Case?
When you initiate a legal case, no matter what kind, opposing counsel will find your social media accounts and look for information that they can use. In cases like these, context always matters. When litigating a personal injury case, and in all other cases, both your lawyer and opposing parties’ attorney will undergo discovery. Discovery is the process of obtaining evidence from the opposing party through documents and disclosures. In this process, each side will request information from the other through admissions, interrogatories, or document requests, all overseen by the court. Your attorney may be able to control what kind of information the other party receives from you by managing how they respond to the other parties’ requests or by objecting to the disclosure of privileged material. However, the discovery process usually only involves information held by either party, disclosed by request.
This will not protect the information found on your social media sites. Generally, information posted on social media sites is considered public information and can be used by the opposing party. The opposing party can use this information because it was volunteered by you when you posted it on the site.
Your Social Media Posts, Even If Unrelated To Your Case, Can Be Used Against You
No matter how innocent, almost any social media post can be twisted, taken out of context, and spun to hurt your case. For example, assume that you have suffered a severe injury that has kept you in the hospital for a long time. After you have recovered enough, you go on a family outing together. Even though you are still recovering from those injuries, you might have a picture taken of you where you appear to be just fine. Opposing counsel may attempt to use such pictures to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you said they were.
What Should I Do With My Social Media After I Am Injured?
The best course of action is to limit what you post and how much you post. You should not post anything on social media about your case. Even if what you are going to post is not directly related to your case, it is still important to think about how that information could be used against you should you post it. In addition, you should not accept friend requests that you receive following your injury, even if they appear to be people you know. This kind of tactic can be used to obtain information from your social media without identifying that they are not who they say they are. It is essential to consult with your lawyer before posting or deleting data or accepting new friends or followers on your social media accounts following your injury.
Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys In Georgia
If you have a personal injury claim to bring to court, it is important that you have an experienced attorney to represent you. An experienced attorney will help you navigate the legal process to protect your interests and to help you receive the compensation you deserve. The experienced attorneys at Dozier Law can help you get the compensation you need to recover. For more information or to set up your free initial case consultation, contact Dozier Law today by calling (888) 239-2129 or contacting us online.
