How Social Media Can Impact Your Case

Author: Julie Cibulskis

Social media allows people to interact over the internet with people who share interests, activities, backgrounds or real-life connections. The number of social networking websites and apps are too numerous to list but include Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A new app or website is created nearly everyday that provides social networking opportunities. With the prevalence of smartphones and computers, the popularity of social networking has skyrocketed over recent years. More than 50% of American adults use social networking services.

Be Mindful of What You Post

Social media has many potential benefits. It is a great way to enhance personal relationships by allowing you to connect with friends and family around the world. Social media provides business benefits such as finding job opportunities, marketing yourself, and enhancing business contacts. Social media is also a great way to access news about things that are important to you.

What you may not realize is that social media can also influence your legal claims. When you use social media, you should know that it may be accessible by the entire world, including the opposing attorney, insurance companies and jurors.

Protect Yourself

The use of social media can dramatically influence your legal claims. Here are some helpful tips regarding social media to protect your case.

• Adjust your privacy settings to prevent unknown viewers from seeing your account;

• Do not accept invitations from people you do not know;

• Assume that everything you post, private and public, will be subpoenaed by the opposition;

• Avoid posting anything about your case, including information about the occurrence and your injuries;

• Do not post photographs of yourself that are inconsistent with your case and monitor any photographs friends and family post of you;

• Do not make any references to your financial status;

• Assume that your case will be decided by a diverse jury with differing ethnic, social, political and religious backgrounds;

• Deleting information on social media may result in sanctions, so obtain legal advice before removing anything from your accounts.

Keeping these simple tips in mind may protect your legal claims and help your obtain the compensation you deserve.