A few years ago, a man in the middle of a personal injury lawsuit learned the hard way the importance of not posting on social media. At Springer & Lyle, we want you to understand mistakes you can make during the pendency of your lawsuit that can seriously affect your claim. The main mistake people make is posting about their activities, photos, and videos on social media.
How Posting on Social Media Can Negatively Affect Your Case
Three adult boy scout leaders took a group of scouts to explore Utah’s Goblin Valley State Park. The three leaders climbed a hill and pushed a 2,000-pound boulder off its pedestal. The men posted a video of this event showing the physical effort it took to topple the huge rock. They all three pushed with all their strength. Finally, one man gave a final push and the boulder toppled down the hill.
The men were so excited, that they posted a video of themselves climbing the hill, pushing the boulder, and their excitement over their feat. In the video, the men were jumping up and down in excitement and, high-fiving each other. The video went “viral” and the attention the men received was not what they expected.
It was discovered that one of the men, the one who did most of the heavy pushing of the boulder, had filed a personal injury lawsuit just a few weeks before the “boulder event” stemming from a car crash he was in several years earlier. He claimed in his lawsuit that he suffered “serious, permanent and debilitating injuries” and “the loss of enjoyment of life.”
The defense attorney moved to dismiss the case. He pointed out that “Someone with a bad back who’s disabled, who can’t enjoy life, to me, doesn’t step up and push a rock that big off the base.”
Not too long after the incident, the case was dismissed with a stipulation filed with the court that the parties had “settled or resolved” the issues.
There are lessons to be learned about mistakes you can make that can seriously affect your personal injury case.
Stay Off Social Media
As difficult as it is to keep the incident to yourself and not post it on Facebook or other social media, resist the temptation to share. If you post it on social media, the defendant will find it.
It’s best not to post anything about the incident. Do not post photos, do not post videos, do not post comments on other threads that refer to your accident. Anything you post will be scrutinized by the opposing party in an attempt to discredit your claims.
Contact Springer & Lyle for Assistance
The personal injury attorneys at Springer & Lyle can help you collect the reasonable compensation you are entitled for your injuries, lost wages, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other physical damage. Contact us at 940.387.0404 for a free consultation.
