Is Sharing Personal Injury Case Details on Social Media Advisable in New Jersey?

If you’re like most people these days, a lot of your life is online. But should the details of your personal injury case be a part of your social media presence?

Probably not, but there is quite a bit of nuance to understand here.

Is sharing personal injury case details on social media a good idea in New Jersey? Read on to find out everything you need to know, or reach out to the Rosengard Law Group team by contacting us online or calling 856-284-6446.

Can My Social Media Posts Be Used Against Me as Evidence?

Yes, your social media posts can be used against you as evidence in your New Jersey personal injury claim.

For that reason alone, it’s a good idea to avoid sharing the details of your personal injury case anywhere online — social media included.

Of course, you can always speak to your personal injury attorney about a post you are considering making. They will be able to advise you about the content of that specific post and how it might affect your case.

To illustrate why you shouldn’t post details about your injury or claim online, let’s look at a few examples:

Example 1: Giving Them a Way to Deny Your Injuries

Let’s say you filed a personal injury claim against someone who hit you with their car. You say in the claim that you received a severe shoulder injury.

You can no longer lift or move heavy objects. And, for this very reason, you can no longer work in your current profession.

The above serves as the basis of your claim for compensation. You are requesting compensation for your pain and suffering, lost wages, emotional distress, and medical bills.

To support this request, you present medical bills, photographs of your injury, and a psychiatric evaluation.

On your Facebook profile, though, you post photos and videos of the pickup football games you and your friends play at the park every Sunday.

The opposing party could use those photos and videos to suggest that your injuries are less serious than you claim.

If the opposing party presents this evidence successfully, you might receive less money than you are pursuing — or see your case fail entirely.

Example 2: Confusing Claims About Your Accident

Imagine you were injured in a motorcycle accident by a negligent driver. You file a personal injury claim against the negligent driver.

In that claim, you allege that the driver was speeding while heading west on a divided highway before they hit you.

But you posted about this on Instagram. You posted an update about your accident and the fact that you were headed to the hospital for treatment, along with a photo. And the photo may cause problems for you.

Why? Because the photo clearly shows the driver’s vehicle in an eastbound lane, not westbound.

That may not sound like a big deal, but it can also open up questions about your entire story. And your story needs to be proven in order for you to recover personal injury compensation.

Example 3: Questioning Your Motivations

Our final example involves you making a social media post describing your shoulder injury.

Right at the end of the post describing your injury, you write “I’m going to take them for all they’re worth.”

The above does not contradict your personal injury claims. But the opposing party could use it to suggest that you are being vindictive. Or, alternatively, asking for too much money in order to get “revenge.”

Even though it is legal, sharing personal injury case details on social media is not advisable in New Jersey. Doing so can prevent you from getting the full compensation you are entitled to.

If I have already shared the details of my personal injury case, what should I do?

If you have already shared personal injury case details on social media, speak with your attorney as soon as possible. By speaking with your attorney, you can get an idea of what is advisable

Your attorney will likely examine the posts you made and give you a plan of action. That may mean making your profile private, deleting the post, editing the post, or doing nothing at all.

In any case, it’s a good idea to get the opinion of a qualified legal professional if you feel you have posted something that may damage your personal injury case.

To schedule a free consultation, call us at 856-284-6446 or visit Rosengard Law Group now!