MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota. Personal injury victims are often told to limit their use of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media venues while their case remains open. According to an article published in the SMU Science and Technology Law Review, more aspects of your online identity are subject to discovery in a personal injury case. Long gone are the cursory Facebook and Twitter searches. Lawyers may look into your posted YouTube videos, your blog, and even look into your online connections for damning evidence. As we use more forms of technology to stay connected and for entertainment, these modes of communication and technology may be more open to scrutiny in legal cases. Because of the complexities of the law, if you have been seriously injured in a car accident in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it may be wise to speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer like the attorneys at the Law Office of Martin T. Montilino.
What can you do to protect your case? For one, it is important to remember that anything you say and do online could possibly be used against you in a court of law. Even posts prior to your accident could impact your case. For instance, if you posted on Facebook that you were “rushing to work” and then get into an accident, this post could possibly be used against you, even if the other driver may have been at fault for the crash.
While it may seem extreme, a recent Lexology article suggests that individuals shut down their blogs and suspend their social media accounts, at least while a case is open. By doing this, individuals can avoid making information easy to access. Even if you learn How to Delete or Deactivate Your Twitter Account and other social media platforms, you should also speak to friends and family and ask them to refrain from posting photos or information about you until the case is settled. While this can be harder to control, you can often prevent photos and posts from being linked to you by changing your settings. Some social media services require you to approve of any post before it’s associated with your account. Comments on other people’s profiles also can be used against you, so it’s probably best to communicate with others in private. You and your personal injury lawyer may be able to review your settings to protect your information.
The good news is that websites aren’t always required to provide information when lawyers request it. Sometimes, just taking down your sites while a case is open is enough to protect your data. However, it is important to know that in some cases a subpoena can be used to access this data if the other side thinks it is relevant. What should you do if there’s something online you may be worried about? Tell your lawyer about it. Your lawyer will need to know as much as possible to help you build the strongest case.
The aftermath of a car accident can be challenging for victims and families. However, the law offers many protections that allows families to seek justice and recoveries for their losses. Visit https://martinmontilino.com/ today to learn more about what steps you should take if you’ve been personally injured in Minneapolis, Minnesota.