How Social Media Can Ruin Your Personal Injury Claim Social media has become a large part of our daily lives, with Facebook alone boasting over 2.4 billion active users. It has become, in large part, how we connect with family and friends, but it is not the place to talk about your personal injury case. It is all too common for people, once they collect themselves after a wreck, to post photos of their car and their injuries. Grandmama may respond, “I’m glad you are okay.” This can be viewed as proof that you have already communicated with Grandmama and told her you were not hurt. This can really “wreck” your claim. Posting photos of yourself cheering at a football game or riding on a boat at the beach, if you are suffering from a back injury, certainly gives the other side some talking points, saying that you aren’t really hurt. You may be in great pain and are just fighting through the pain and trying to just have a life, but the insurance company will use it against you. Insurance companies pay people to track your social media once you report a claim to find any evidence that can be used against you. This puts you in the position of having to defend yourself, which is the insurance company’s goal, so you cannot focus on the wrongdoing of the at-fault driver and the severity of your injuries. So, what do you do? Avoiding social media entirely may not be realistic, but limiting what you post on social media is a good idea. Tell your family and friends to do the same. Google yourself to see what is out there, because the insurance company will google you. Since you know the insurance company will be monitoring you, only post what you want them to see. Again, here’s the best practice: Don’t post.
In 1983, one movie introduced Red Ryder BB guns, fishnet-clad leg lamps, and bright red bars of soap into America’s everlasting Christmas mythos. Now, over 35 years later, “A Christmas Story” continues to delight audiences every holiday season with timeless lessons for viewers of all ages. In a story where kids are clever and kind, and parents are bumbling and wise, “A Christmas Story” has more lessons to offer families than just, “You’ll shoot your eye out!” More Than Just ‘You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out!’ Lessons Families Can Learn From ‘A Christmas Story’
YOUR KIDS ARE LISTENING TO YOU (OH, FUDGE!). They aren’t always obedient, but that doesn’t mean they’re not listening. After Ralphie lets slip the “queen mother of dirty words” in front of his father, the narrator reminisces about first hearing that word from his old man — possibly when he was trying to get their furnace to work. He doesn’t admit this to his mother, but it’s a lesson for parents everywhere that kids may hear more than they let on. KIDS WON’T BELIEVE IN MAGIC FOREVER. Magical stories about Santa or even “Little Orphan Annie’s” Secret Society fill children’s hearts with wonder but won’t enchant them forever. Belief in certain parts of the Christmas season can fade slowly or die as quickly as the spin of a decoder pin, but parents can always be there to remind children about what’s really important during the Christmas season. SOMETIMES ‘DISASTERS’ LEAD TO NEW ADVENTURES. Christmas Day can be hectic, and, in the hubbub of it all, sometimes disaster can feel inevitable. Ralphie’s parents certainly experience their fair share of disaster in hilarious fashion when the Bumpus Hounds destroy their holiday turkey and leave nothing but the heavenly aroma. But, when Ralphie’s father takes them out to eat at a local Chinese restaurant, it creates a whole new Christmas tradition for the Parker family. Our holiday mishaps, no matter how tragic, are rarely the end of the world.
Call us at David Blackwell Law with any questions you might have at 803-285-0225 or go to DavidBlackwellLaw.com.
Consider one final tip: Do not stick your tongue to any flagpoles this winter! Happy holidays!
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