Pursuing a personal injury claim can be a difficult battle, but social media can often make it more difficult. Insurance defense lawyers are skilled at combing through social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more to attempt to uncover evidence they can present to discredit your claims in court. Thus it is advised that claimants stay off some platforms altogether.
"Insurance defense lawyers are skilled at combing through social media accounts in an attempt to come up with evidence they can present to discredit your claims in court."
Your posts, tweets, and updates are all information that insurance defense lawyers can attempt to submit as evidence against you and your claim during litigation. They seek anything that shows your quality of life has not been diminished or that you may not have been injured as badly as you are claiming. For instance, if you claim that an accident or injury left you with impaired mobility, posting pictures of you out-and-about may undercut your claim.
Even if social media posts are set to private, this is no guarantee that defense lawyers will not see them. The Rules of Professional Conduct provided in Rule 8.4(c) state that a lawyer shall "not engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation." However, bar lawyers can pose as a friend on Facebook to access the private data. Information forwarded by others is still admissible.
The Meyers Law Firm can help you find a personal injury attorney who will take your claims seriously and give you the best possible legal advice. Get in touch today to get started.