Be mindful of social media worker’s compensation

Social media has become a regular part of people’s lives. For many, posting a Facebook status or an Instagram picture is second nature, and we do it almost automatically. This automatic nature can create issues however if you aren’t careful what you post. The things you post on your social media profiles can be admissible in court, and if you are currently seeking workers compensation then you can do serious damage your case.

Workers compensation cases, often referred to as workers comp cases, allow the victims of a workplace accident to seek compensation for their injuries from their employers. These cases are very simple at times, but can quickly become very complicated if the employer attempts to deny compensation. If you have been injured on the job, receiving workers comp may be a crucial part of your recovery, as it will help cover your medical bills and the time you had to spend out of work.

As anything you post to social media can be used in court, posting anything that contradicts your case can ruin an otherwise effective workers comp claim. For example, if you are claiming you are injured and unable to work, but then post pictures of you dancing at a bar last weekend, you may give your employer ammunition to use against you. Things you say can also hurt your case. Consider a tweet reading: “Had an accident at work today, totally my fault, I’m such a clumsy person!” It may sound innocent enough, but this statement could be read as an admission that your injuries were self-inflicted. In some states, self-inflicted injuries are not covered by workers comp. Thus, you completely undermine your case in less than one hundred and sixty characters. Of course, any images about you using illegal drugs or showing you using drugs around the time of the incident can also destroy your claim.

We could all stand to be mindful of what we post on social media, but this goes double for anyone who is currently under the scrutiny of a workers comp case. When you speak to a personal injury attorney Atlanta GA relies on about your case, make sure they are aware of any information on your accounts that may be an issue, and delete anything that you can. As we have all heard, nothing on the internet can truly be deleted, but it doesn’t hurt to try. With your attorney aware of any harmful posts, they will be able to prepare a game plan to protect you should the information become an issue.

Thanks to our friends and contributors from Andrew R. Lynch, P.C. for their insight into workers compensation practice.