Keeping Information Private When Pursuing a Personal Injury Case
If you are choosing to pursue personal injury recovery in Florida, it’s important to understand that the information you share, both online and offline, can affect the outcome of your case. To maximize your chances of securing the recovery amount you need to move past an injurious event, exercise caution when sharing information about your accident.
Consulting with a qualified Tampa personal injury attorney as soon as possible is a way to connect with best practices when it comes to claims and lawsuits. Legal experts are available to help you navigate the complexities of the recovery process, including walking you through why it’s essential to keep information about your personal injury case private and how social media use and excessive discussions about your claim can potentially harm your chances of recovery.
Issues with Social Media
While social media platforms can be a great way to stay connected with friends and family, they can be detrimental to your personal injury case. This is true for the following reasons.
- Inconsistent statements. Professionals involved in a claim may scour social media for any posts or photos that contradict injury claims. Because of this, if you post images or comments that suggest you are in better health than your claim asserts, it can undermine your credibility.
- Discrepancies in timelines. Posts or photos may suggest that when an accident occurred or when a person sought medical treatment is not the same as the timeline outlined in a claim.
It’s important to acknowledge that privacy settings within social media platforms will not guarantee that information shared is safe. For example, if friends, family members, or other connections screenshot or share your posts, it will exist outside of your privacy settings and may be shared with others.
Excessive Discussions Can Be Problematic
Aside from social media conversations, excessive discussions in person or over the phone can also be problematic.
- Admissions of guilt. If you are to inadvertently say something in a conversation that could be interpreted as an admission of guilt, that information could be shared or overheard and used against you.
- Statement inconsistencies. If you discuss your version of the accident multiple times, it is possible that the story you have told many people will not be heard in exactly the same way each time. Any inconsistencies in your account could be used to discredit your credibility.
- Spreading information. When you chat about your injury with others, you’re essentially sharing details that could reach the opposing side, potentially undermining your claim.
Choose your words carefully when discussing your case, and it may be better to avoid discussing the case at all except with a few trusted connections.
An experienced Tampa personal injury attorney can provide guidance on what to say and do to protect your claim. Your attorney can also help you communicate effectively with insurance companies and ensure that your rights are upheld.
Were you communicating on social media about your injury recently? If you want to learn more about how to strengthen your injury claim, connect with the legal professionals at HD Law Partners to learn more. Call 813-964-7878.
