Most all Americans, no matter their age or level of technological skills, have at least dabbled in some form of social media. Whether keeping up with family and friends on Facebook, posting photos on Instagram or Snapchat, or sending Twitter updates, social media can be a good way to share moments of your life with others. If you are involved in a personal injury case, however, using social media after an accident may end up costing you money—or even your entire case.
If you are in the middle of a personal injury case it is extremely important that you use good judgment regarding your social media accounts. It is equally important to note that while using social media is likely to have a negative impact on your personal injury case, there are certain times when a social media profile could actually help your case. Posts and photographs could document your actions during a specific timeframe, or help you prove your side of an issue. Once the wheels of justice have been put into motion, you should be extremely cautious regarding what you post onto social media, and if you have any doubts about what is appropriate, talk to your attorney before posting.
As an example, if you are suing for personal injury, it would probably not be the best idea to post photos of yourself in a fun, physical activity. Regardless of how innocent, the information could be used against you. If you feel it necessary to update your friends and family on your physical condition following your accident, do so in person or on the phone. Even if you are not posting anything directly about your accident or your injuries, remember that a jury may wonder just how much pain you could have been in if you found the time to chat regularly with friends, no matter the subject.
Furthering Reading: GPS Related Car Accidents
If you are involved in any type of legal action, remember the following do’s and don’ts:
In many cases, when you are suing for a personal injury, you are not only claiming damages for actual expenses, but for your pain and suffering as well. If your Facebook page shows you at a party with friends laughing and having a good time, it could be difficult to show you are actually in pain or suffering in any tangible way. If you are claiming in your lawsuit that you are unable to enjoy your regular activities because of the accident, yet there you are on Instagram bowling on Tuesday night, it will be difficult to show your injuries have affected your activities to any measurable degree. Even saying something on social media about what you plan to do with your settlement money can end up causing you trouble. In the end, avoid social media as much as you possibly can while your case is pending, and you can avoid having an innocent comment or photograph used against you, costing you the settlement you were entitled to.
If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident in Broomfield, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, or anywhere in Colorado, it is important to contact our experienced personal injury attorneys immediately. At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., our committed personal injury lawyers are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience representing injured accident victims in Broomfield, Arvada, Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, and throughout Colorado.
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.
awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries. Read More
awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement. Read More
awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier. Read More
settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air. Read More
settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager. Read More
awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job. Read More
settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit. Read More
settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino. Read More
awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident. Read More