The Impact of Social Media on Personal Injury Claims in Oklahoma

If you enjoy using social media to connect with others, to get your news, or to research new professional networking opportunities, then you are not alone. There are several social media platforms to choose from and according to the Pew Research Center, the majority of Americans use at least one social media platform or more.

Still, there is a time and place for everything. And, when it comes to social media, there is no place for it when one is engaged in a personal injury suit. This is because social media can be a factor that jeopardizes a person’s ability to recover compensation for their losses.

When you have been injured by a negligent party in Oklahoma, then you may be able to file a personal injury claim for compensation. While personal injury claims usually result in a settlement, sometimes a claim will go to trial to be determined. It is best to have an attorney on your side who knows how to handle not only successful negotiations but who is also able to provide legal representation in the courtroom should that be how your case is resolved.

Understanding the Dangers of Social Media When Filing a Personal Injury Claim

A personal injury claim is meant to recover financial compensation for losses that were sustained in an unintentional injury accident. Damages may include pain and suffering, missed wages, medical expenses, and more. Typically, when an accident is more severe, then the amount of damages that a claimant may demand and is entitled to can be much higher than when an injury accident only results in minimal harm. Still, any victim of an accident caused by another’s negligence should be able to collect the full amount of compensation that they need to cover the losses they had to endure.

There are several things that are needed to be successful with a claim. There needs to be a determination of what party or parties are liable for the damages owed to a plaintiff. Then, there must be proof that said parties were negligent and that their carelessness caused the accident which led to the plaintiff’s losses. To accomplish all of this, robust evidence supporting a claim is essential.

Yet, even if all of the pieces are in place and there is plenty of evidence to prove liability and the extent of damages that a plaintiff sustained, what is on a plaintiff’s social media could derail efforts made for fair compensation. This is because what is alleged in a claim could be contradicted by social media posts.

For example, let’s say that a plaintiff claims that their quality of life was substantially impacted after an accident and that their injuries were not just painful but also limited their ability to easily engage in activities of daily life. Yet, on one of their social media pages, they post pictures of themselves enjoying a party with friends, or a long hike in the mountains. This would certainly make an insurance adjuster question the legitimacy of the claims that the plaintiff made about their injuries and their pain and suffering.

Speak to an Attorney at the Putnam Law Office Today

It is important to get the most out of a personal injury claim and this is why avoiding social media is so important. Anything posted on a social media site may not be intended to harm a claim, but insurance adjusters will scan social media and what they find can negatively impact what compensation a plaintiff may be able to obtain from their claim.

For assistance with a personal injury claim in Oklahoma, please call the Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys at the Putnam Law Office at (405) 849-9149 today to schedule a free consultation.