Can Facebook Ruin My Case? What to Know About Social Media and Personal Injury
After an accident, you might have a lot of questions. “Can my insurance cover the medical bills?” “Will I make a full recovery?” “Do I have to hire a lawyer?” But one thing people rarely question during a personal injury case is “Can I still post on Facebook?” Social media is a staple of today’s society. It’s how we stay in touch with our families, keep up-to-date on world events, and watch all the best cat videos. Unfortunately, if you’re in the middle of a personal injury case, social media can also be used against you. Even if your social media profiles are set to private, the opposing attorneys can scour your online life looking for evidence to undermine your case. This is why you need to be cautious about what you post after an accident. Never post about your accident online. If you’re in a car accident and you post to reassure you family members that you are all right, the insurance company can point to this and claim your injuries aren’t that severe. If you write about how terrible your injuries are but don’t describe them in the exact same manner later, the insurance company might insist you’re lying about your injuries entirely.
enjoy hiking. If the court finds a photo of you online, smiling and enjoying a hike with your family, the judge might rule against you. It doesn’t matter if you were in pain the whole time and haven’t hiked since. The same holds true if you are filing a case due to emotional distress. It’s not uncommon to experience isolation or depression after a serious accident. However, if you’re tagged in a photo after having brunch with friends, the insurance company can question how isolated you really are. At this point, you may be wondering if you should delete certain posts or your entire social media accounts entirely. No. Deleting your accounts may imply you have something to hide. Instead, you should avoid posting anything on social media altogether and ask that your friends and family refrain from posting about you until your case is over. If you have other questions about your case or personal injury in general, get answers by calling 815-726-9999. The experts at Block, Klukas, Manzella, & Shell are here to help you.
It’s not just details about the accident that can be called into question. Let’s say a rear-end collision has left you unable to
SUDOKU
CHICKEN CHOP SUEY
INGREDIENTS
• 2 large or 4 medium chicken thighs • 3 pounds bok choy, cut into 3–4-inch ribbons
• 2 teaspoons sugar • 2 tablespoons cornstarch, mixed with 4 tablespoons water • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil • Salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil • 3 tablespoons oyster sauce
DIRECTIONS
1. In large pot, boil three cups of water. Add chicken and reduce to simmer, cooking for 30 minutes. Remove chicken and let cool. Once cooled, remove skin and bones, chop, and set aside. Reserve the cooking liquid. 2. In a large skillet over high heat, heat vegetable oil. Once simmering, add bok choy and cook for 1 minute, stirring throughout. Add half of reserved cooking liquid, cover skillet, and cook for 2 minutes. Remove cover and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Transfer bok choy to a plate. 3. Add remaining cooking liquid and chicken to the pan, maintaining high heat. Heat chicken, then add oyster sauce, sugar, cornstarch-and-water mixture, sesame oil, and bok choy. Season to taste, toss together, and serve over rice. Inspired by The New York Times
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