Social media is an extremely popular pastime for most people. Around 22% of the world’s population uses Facebook, and most Instagram users are between 18 and 29 years old (6 out of 10 adults online). It’s also a relatively recent phenomenon. Facebook is only 13 years old, and public use of the Internet has only been around for the past 30 years or so.
Many people are still becoming acclimated to using social media in their day-to-day lives, and this recent phenomenon can impact people in ways they don’t expect.
More and more attorneys have been using social media sites as a way to bolster their cases. In personal injury suits, the lawyers of insurance companies have been combing through claimants profiles to come up with dirt to use against them in court.
For example, if a person is suing a company for causing the circumstances leading to her broken leg, and the business’s insurance company finds pictures of the person laughing and having a good time on Facebook, the lawyer might prevent that person from obtaining any compensation for pain and suffering, even if she was only smiling for the camera when the picture was taken.
Social media is often a way for people to connect with others in the most positive way. It is a collection of the best and most beautiful moments in peoples’ lives they want to share with their friends and family. People rarely post pictures or statuses indicating their lives are less than perfect. However, insurance companies will use these snapshots of happiness against the claimant to save themselves some money.
If you’re pursuing a personal injury case, do yourself a favor and stay off of social media until your claim has been completed. Likewise, ask your friends and family to refrain from posting about your injury on social media on your behalf.
Our skilled San Jose personal injury attorneys can help you file a claim or fight a disputed claim. Habbas & Associate is dedicated to assisting the victims of negligence in seeking compensation for the harm done to them.
Contact us at (888) 387-4053 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.
