It is only natural for people to want to share information with their friends.  This is especially true (for some) after they encounter an unusual, dramatic or traumatic event, such as a car accident or a slip and fall.  However, you need to be very careful when posting any information online, particularly when it comes to social media.
With the infusion of the Internet into our daily lives, blogs and social media sites have made an impact and are, at least for now, here to stay.  Although this may be positive for some, it endangers our privacy especially for businesses who want information on us - such as insurance companies.
Insurance companies are more and more relying on, and searching, the web in search of information on personal injury victims.  They simply type your name into any of the search engines online, such as Google or Yahoo, and if you have a blog, are on Facebook or Twitter, they may be able to read your posts depending on your privacy settings.
So, if you are injured in an accident, injured in a slip and fall, or were attacked by a dog, be very careful.  Do not talk about the incident or discuss your injuries online.  Also, do not post any pictures or video about the scene of the accident, the place you slipped and fell, or about your injuries.
You also need to be aware that any post, picture or video that you put online can be used by the other side to attack your injuries, regardless of whether the post, picture or video talks about the incident or your injuries.  For example, if you are injured in an accident and allege injuries, you should “not” be posting any information, pictures or videos showing you water-skiing or running a marathon after the incident.  So, any information about your activities, regardless of how innocent they may be, “can and will be used against you.”
This article is brought to you by Attorney Mason Rashtian of The Mason Law Firm.  This article is only for informational purposes and not meant to serve as legal advice.
For more information, please call The Mason Law Firm, 27240 Turnberry Lane, Suite 200 in Valencia at 661-362-0805 or email mr.law@scvlawcenter.com.