Social media can give insurance companies a window into your activities, statements, and physical condition during a personal injury claim. This article explains…
- How social media activity can affect a personal injury claim.
- Why deleted posts may still surface and impact your claim.
- What an Illinois personal injury lawyer may advise while a case is pending.
Why Do Insurance Companies Review Social Media Accounts During Personal Injury Claims?
Insurance companies review social media because public posts can give them information about what a claimant is doing, saying, and physically able to do. If an account is publicly accessible, an insurer can review that content just like any other member of the public.
Insurance companies can also hire private investigators to conduct surveillance and follow someone during a personal injury claim. Social media is another way they can gather information about a person and their activities.
The reason they do this is to look for evidence that may contradict what someone is claiming about their injuries. For example, suppose you claim that your injuries prevent you from participating in certain physical activities. Then, the insurance company finds social media posts showing you dancing, running a marathon, doing jumping jacks, playing soccer, or participating in some other physical activity you have said you can no longer do.
Evidence like that can be devastating to your claim because it may appear inconsistent with what you have said about your injuries and limitations.
Can Deleted Social Media Posts Still Be Recovered And Used As Evidence?
In short, yes. If you delete evidence while litigation is pending, that can potentially be used against you, even if the deleted data itself is never recovered. For that reason, deleting posts after a personal injury case has begun can create additional problems rather than simply making the information disappear.
What Should I Do If I’ve Already Posted About My Accident Or Injuries Online?
If you have already posted about your accident or injuries, avoid making additional posts about your condition or activities while the claim is pending. You can also make your accounts private, but you should not delete existing content simply because you are concerned it could affect the case.
Can Social Media Ever Help Support A Personal Injury Claim?
Social media is far more likely to create problems for a personal injury claim than strengthen it. Posts about your injuries, activities, or recovery can be taken out of context or used to challenge what you have said elsewhere in the case.
Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?
For more information about social media and personal injury claims in Illinois, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (312) 210-7229 today.
A photo of you dancing, playing soccer, or even discussing physical activity online can become evidence an insurance company tries to use against your injury claim. Alexander Memmen, Esq of Sharks At Law understands how insurers investigate plaintiffs, including reviewing publicly accessible social media and using private investigators to conduct surveillance. He also knows that simply deleting problematic posts after litigation begins can create additional issues.
If you have an Illinois personal injury claim and are unsure what to post, preserve, or make private, contact Sharks At Law before changing your accounts or sharing more information online.
