Two people sit at a desk; one is signing an injury claim document with a pen, while the other, dressed in business attire, holds a pen next to a cup and saucer.

Will posting too much on social media affect your personal injury claim? 3/3

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Could your social media activity impact your personal injury claim? While you can adjust privacy settings, always remember that online posts might be seen by others, including personal injury lawyers looking for evidence to use against your claim. PK Simpson advises caution.

Are your social networking profiles visible to all?
Not always, but you should always keep in mind that whatever you post on the internet could be seen by others. You can change your profile settings to be private, but depending on your settings, things such as profile pictures can sometimes remain visible to strangers. Personal injury lawyers will use anything they can as evidence and present it as a proof against you.

Some solutions you need to practice when it comes to social media.
Therefore, you need to be careful about what you post online, especially after you have had an accident/injury. Compensation lawyers will be on the hunt for any data against you, to prove you wrong and get your personal injury claim cancelled. You have to be aware of what you are posting, or what your friends and family might be posting about you. The best way to avoid such tricky situations is to set your account to the most private setting available and refrain from posting anything that could be used against you online. If you really want to be on the safe side, just deactivate all your social media accounts for a temporary period.

Some examples of posts which can be used against you

For instance:

  1. If you’ve claimed to have a bad back, they will look out for photos or statements which show you engaged in physical activity.
  2. If you’ve claimed PTSD due to an injury, they will look out for posts which show you “having fun”, or engaging in activities and hobbies that require concentration.
  3. If you’ve claimed that the injury has affected your earning capacity due to an inability to work, they’ll look for posts which show you working (whether it’s paid or unpaid).
  4. If you’ve claimed that you cannot travel very far or drive due to your injury, they’ll look for posts which show you undertaking road trips or overseas travels.

Be extremely careful about what you post online. Contact PK Simpson on 1300 757 467 if you have questions regarding your personal injury claim.