Although such extreme cases of self-incrimination using technology are rare, it is a problem for people involved in personal injury cases or those who have received a settlement or judgment for a case or are disabled.
One Facebook photo showed a man riding a personal watercraft while another was holding a swordfish that he caught while fishing in the ocean. Another picture showed another man still riding a motorcycle.
- Your Instagram and Facebook photos are public and can be used against you – Social media profiles, as well as the videos and photos uploaded to them, are not protected in legal cases. A New York court ordered Facebook that it turn over user information for those under investigation in the case of disability fraud.
- Social media sabotage doesn’t only affect fraud cases – Your Facebook account could unintentionally undermine the argument. Ed Schade looked at human nature to explain why court cases are often sabotage.
If you’re pursuing a personal injury claim, you will need to close your social media accounts or modify how you use them.
It is best to close your social media accounts when you are involved in court cases. This is the safest option. If you insist on using them, at the very least make sure to portray your life accurately. Although court cases are supposedly about hard facts, feelings and impressions can be just as important. If you post something to Facebook, think about what the judge and defense attorney would think.
