If you’ve been hurt in any sort of accident, you may have a claim for damages. If you were injured because of someone else’s negligence, they should have to pay. It’s not fair for you to be left holding the bag if the accident was caused by someone else.

Your personal injury lawyer in Greenville, South Carolina will work hard to get you the compensation you deserve. But you can make this very difficult if you talk about your case on social media.

People spend about half their free time on social media. Whether they’re posting on Facebook or tweeting about their day, people are plugged into their phones and handheld devices. So, when you post an update or picture on social media, it pretty much becomes public knowledge.

Posting about your case on social media is never a good idea. As tempting as it may be to tell the world your story, you shouldn’t do it. All you’ll do is give the defendant fodder to use against you. Don’t make your lawyer’s job any harder than it already is.

Your Greenville Personal Injury Lawyer Has to Prove Your Case

In order to get you the compensation you deserve, your Greenville personal injury lawyer has to prove your case. This means, in most cases, that they’ll have to prove negligence. In order to do this, your lawyer must demonstrate the following four (4) things:

• The defendant had a duty of care: This isn’t that hard to prove. For example, all drivers are required to obey the traffic laws. Property owners have a duty to keep their premises clean and safe.
• The defendant breached their duty of care: This can be harder to prove. In a premises liability case, for example, your lawyer has to show that the defendant’s property was unsafe. They’ll also have to show that the property owner was aware that their property was unsafe. This isn’t easy to do.
• You were injured: As long as you go to the hospital immediately after your accident, this shouldn’t be difficult to prove. The problem is when people refuse medical treatment. And then days later, they realize they’re hurt. The defendant will claim that something other than their negligence caused your injuries.
• Your injuries were caused by the defendant’s breach: This is usually the crux of your case. Your personal injury lawyer has to prove that your injuries weren’t caused by something other than the defendant’s behavior.

If your lawyer is able to prove these four things, you should have a good shot at winning your case. However, if you post on social media, you can ruin your chances of prevailing against the defendant.

Why is Posting on Social Media a Mistake?

When you post on social media, the whole world sees it. Once you put something out there on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, there’s no taking it back. The defendant can take a screen shot of your post and give it to their lawyer.

Here are some things you can post on social media that will ruin your case:

• Comments about how you’re glad you get a few months off from work due to your injury
• You say that your injuries weren’t as serious as you thought
• You compare your current accident to one you had in the past
• You admit that the accident may have been your fault

Any of these things can destroy your case. Your lawyer is going to have to do a lot of damage control to overcome these things. That’s why it’s better that you not post anything at all. It may be a good idea to avoid social media all together until your case settles.

Anything you post on social media can be used as evidence in court. Even if you delete something, there’s a good chance the defendant or their attorney saw it. They can take a screenshot and submit it as evidence in court. Or, they can use it as leverage in settlement negotiations.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney in Greenville, South Carolina

If you’ve been injured in any type of accident, you need to call a personal injury lawyer in Greenville. Your lawyer at Brumback & Langley can review your case and let you know what it may be worth. They can also answer any questions you may have.

Call today and schedule your free initial consultation. And, in the meantime, don’t post anything about your case on social media. It can be the difference between winning your case and losing your case.