There is no doubt that social media has changed the way we live our lives. Our “friends” online know what we are eating, where we are going, and who we are with through our check-ins, photos, status updates, and tweets. Social media has become a trail of evidence of how we are feeling, where we were at a certain time, and more. It is no surprise that courts have been allowing social media posts to be submitted as evidence in legal claims, and car accidents are no different. Recently, much attention has been paid in the legal community to how social media can work for you and against you in court.
Social Media Can Work in Your Favor
Finding evidence to prove that another driver was negligent in causing your car accident can be challenging. Social media has helped to prove negligence of drivers in many cases. For example:
- A person checks in to a bar and posts photos taking shots and having multiple drinks. Shortly thereafter, that person crashes into your car and you suffer serious injuries. Their social media posts can be used to support the fact that they were drinking and driving.
- A person updates their Twitter or Facebook at the same instant that the crash occurred, showing that they were looking at their phone and were violating distracted driving laws when they hit your car.
These are only two of many instances in which social media can help your car accident case.
Social Media Can Work Against You
Social media can also be used against you in a car accident case. Some situations in which this may occur include:
- You claim you were seriously injured in a car accident but you posted photos of yourself playing sports the day after the accident occurred.
- You claimed that you lost income from missing work because of your injury but you posted updates that you were on a vacation.
- While the above are extreme examples, there are many ways an opposing party can spin your social media posts to call the nature of severity of your injuries into question. For this reason, it is wise to refrain from posting anything that may be even slightly misinterpreted in your case.
Consult with a Michigan Auto Accident Attorney Regarding Your Situation
An experienced car accident attorney will know how to advise you regarding social media use and to use social media evidence to your advantage whenever possible. If you have been injured in a car accident, please call Michigan Injury Lawyers at 313-GET-HELP for a free consultation.