Facebook is an exceptionally powerful tool for communication and networking, but the social media platform has several downsides that most people don’t consider until they experience them firsthand. Perhaps you’ve heard a friend talk about how they didn’t get a job they wanted because their prospective employer didn’t like something they found on their public Facebook page. While Facebook can be quite helpful and fun, you need to be careful when it comes to what and when you share. This is especially true if you are in the middle of a car accident or injury case. If you’re experiencing such a legal battle, be wary of how Facebook could potentially ruin your case.
Comments and Statuses
When you’re dealing with an injury or car accident case, it’s vital that you don’t give the opposing side anything they could potentially use against you in court. If you post any positive statuses after the incident, the defense attorney might present those posts as evidence that you were happy and therefore not hurt by the incident. The same holds true for any comments you make on other posts. Obviously, you don’t want to post any information that makes it seem as if the incident didn’t affect you negatively. Even if your profile is set to private, you should avoid potentially incriminating posts at all costs, even if they are innocent or unconnected to your case.
Photos and Videos
Along the same line as text-based posts, you should avoid posting any photos or videos of yourself while awaiting your court date. If you post a photo of yourself looking happy or uninjured, it could be used to convince a jury that your injuries don’t warrant any reparations. Even posting a photo or video of yourself from a hospital bed can potentially hurt your case if you make it seem as if the injuries aren’t serious or that you’ll make a speedy recovery. These types of posts are actually a bit more worrisome than text-based posts since imagery is more powerful than words.
Friend Requests
You might think you’re in the clear to post any status update you’d like about your injury, car damage, or the incident that caused the problem if you have your Facebook page set to private. In a sense, it’s true that private profiles can only be seen by those you allow to see them, but it’s possible that investigators could gain access to a Facebook account with whom you are connected, giving them full access to your posts. You might even receive Friend Requests from people you may or may not know, but those profiles could easily be falsified in order to slip past the private nature of your page. It’s always a good idea to only add friends you actually know, and this is especially true during an injury or car accident case.
Private Messages
Some private investigators will go through ridiculous trouble to find any evidence that could help their clients get off the hook. It’s highly possible that you could be tricked into believing a Facebook page belongs to someone you know, giving them access to your information. From that point, even if you don’t post any public statuses, they could still fish for information by sending you private messages asking about the case. You might feel tempted to answer candidly in these situations, but remember that saving those messages is as simple as taking a screenshot.
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