Nowadays, most people use social media. Most people rarely think about what they post. It is second nature to post updates on your life. When you are in the middle of a civil lawsuit, however, social media can hurt your case. If you plan to stay on Facebook or Twitter throughout your case, there are three main mistakes that you need to avoid.
Do Not Negotiate with the Other Party
In some personal injury cases, you may have been friends with the defendant prior. For instance, colleagues who cause an injury at the workplace may have been your friend on social media. Likewise, if you suffer an injury on a friend or family member’s property, you may have had a close relationship before the lawsuit.
Due to your history with the defendant, you may feel tempted to negotiate over social media. This can be a bad idea. You could ruin your chances of winning a case. Say that you and the defendant worked out a settlement amount behind the scenes. Then, when you receive your medical bills, you find out that you owe a lot more. In this case, you would not be able to collect the settlement that you deserve.
Do Not Post Physical Activity Photos
Your injury may not stop you from taking part in all physical activities. Your activity may be as simple as taking your dog for a walk. While your physical injuries may impact your daily life and may create difficulty in the workplace, this doesn’t mean that you are physically unable to go for a walk. Even though you know your limitations, if you post pictures of yourself being physically active, the defendant may use it to say that you are not as injured as you say that you are. Pictures can be a convincing element for the defense. It is better to be careful about the types of photos you post while you are waiting to find out your settlement amount. Ideally, you do not want to post on social media about your case. It can feel unrealistic to avoid social media entirely, so while you can continue to post and communicate with your friends and family, you need to avoid the topic of the lawsuit. Follow your lawyer’s advice on how to behave on social media.