Social Media Can Jeopardize Your Alabama Medical Malpractice Case

From Facebook and Twitter to Instagram and Tik Tok, there are more social media platforms than ever. These apps and websites connect us to our friends, loved ones, and interests. And while many of us enjoy sharing our lives with others around the globe, there are downsides to social media. This is especially true if you’re a medical malpractice victim pursuing legal action. If you’ve been injured due to medical negligence, your social media use could weaken or destroy your case. Before updating your status or posting a new picture, talk to an experienced Alabama medical malpractice attorney. Reach out to Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton today.

Problematic pictures

One of the most common ways that social media damages a medical malpractice lawsuit involves posting pictures. If you’ve been injured or become sick due to medical malpractice, you should expect physical limitations. However, posting an image which suggests you aren’t as sick or injured as your lawsuit claims could undermine your case.

What’s worse is that the picture might not even be one that you posted. Facebook friends may post a picture of you and tag you in it. The image presented may not be consistent with the injuries you are claiming.

There’s another, more subtle problem with social media pictures. Some Alabama medical malpractice lawsuits claim non-physical injuries. Examples include pain and suffering, anxiety, and emotional distress. Let’s say you claim these damages in your lawsuit. Now imagine a jury seeing pictures of you enjoying the company of friends. Anything that makes it appear your quality of life hasn’t suffered could be detrimental to your lawsuit.

How posts and comments can hurt you

You should absolutely avoid discussing your lawsuit on social media at all. Even the bare mention of it in a post could invite trouble. For instance, assume you post a status update letting everyone know you’ve filed an Alabama medical malpractice lawsuit. Comments could start showing up that jeopardize your claim. A friend might mention a recent event you were at where you didn’t appear sick or injured, for instance.

Just as you don’t want to post about your lawsuit, don’t mention it in any comments. In fact, don’t mention it anywhere on social media. You need to consult with an Alabama medical malpractice attorney as to whether you should even keep your accounts active. But if you do, keep a close eye on your comments to make sure nothing compromising is said. If any of your family or friends know about the lawsuit, privately tell them to refrain from commenting about it.

Raising unnecessary questions

Your pictures, posts, and comments may seem innocent enough. But in some circumstances, they can raise unnecessary (and, for a jury, distracting) questions. Let’s say that while your trial is pending, you decide to take a beach trip. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this; it is reasonable for an injured person to visit the beach to relax. But now assume you start posting about the trip on social media. Moreover, say you are claiming a number of serious injuries related to the medical malpractice you suffered. Even though you did nothing wrong, the posts could raise questions. It would be better to not have a potential juror see this sort of evidence and wonder whether you really were hurt.

Our Attorney Can Advise You Throughout Your Case

In discussing your matter with an Alabama medical malpractice attorney, be sure you’re completely up front. Let your lawyer know about your various social media accounts. Be honest about whether you’ve already posted about your lawsuit. Generally speaking, you should stay off social media while your case is pending. You may even wish to deactivate your accounts just in case.

This is where having skilled counsel is essential. At Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, we provide comprehensive legal advice concerning Alabama medical malpractice lawsuits. That includes issues touching on social media usage. If you’ve suffered medical negligence, give our team a call today to get started on seeking compensation.