Over the past two decades, social media has become a fixture of modern life. Most people have an account on at least one major platform, which means nearly everyone can turn to their digital friends and followers when they need advice—and few people need advice more than victims of medical malpractice.
If you received substandard care from a negligent provider, it’s only natural to reach out to those closest to you on social media, but doing so could end up jeopardizing your claim. In fact, it’s wise to stay off social media altogether until your case has been resolved. If temporarily disabling your accounts isn’t an option, keep the following tips in mind:
- Carefully Review Every Post Before Publishing
There’s no way to predict how the opposing party could misrepresent your photos, videos, and text posts. As such, it’s critical to carefully review every post before publishing. If you think there’s even a chance the content will call into question the severity of your injuries or any other aspect of your case, avoid publishing it altogether.
- Update Your Privacy Settings
If your profiles are visible to the general public or even to third-degree connections, adjust your settings as soon as possible so only approved friends and followers can see new posts. Although there may still be ways for the insurance adjuster to access your profile, this will provide an added hurdle. It’s also wise to avoid accepting friend requests from anyone whom you do not actually know until your case has been resolved.
- Tell Loved Ones Not to Mention You or Post Photos of You
Even if your online presence is scant, the insurance adjuster could find dozens of photos of you on your friends’ and relatives’ profiles. Therefore, you should remind all those whom you spend time with that you have a pending case. Ask them to avoid posting photographs of you, and remind them not to tag you in their “check-ins” or status updates. At the end of the day, the less the opposing party knows about your social life, the better.
- Avoid Discussing the Case
It may be obvious how posting about specific legal strategies could end up jeopardizing your claim, but asking friends or followers for advice on medical malpractice in general might seem relatively “safe.” Since even a seemingly open-ended question could inform the opposing party of the direction in which you might take the case, it’s best to avoid referencing anything regarding your claim, the incident, or your recovery on social media.
Call 212-980-6800 to Discuss Your Case with a Massachusetts Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you want to sue a negligent healthcare provider or facility in New York or Massachusetts, contact Charnas Law Firm. We will help you gather all available evidence to prove liability and damages against all responsible parties. Call 212-980-6800 or use our Online Contact Form to set up a free consultation with a medical malpractice lawyer in Massachusetts.