When you’re recovering from a workplace injury, your focus should be on healing. However, be aware:
These days, what you post online can follow you into the courtroom or the claims process. Social media might feel like a private outlet to vent or update friends. On the contrary, anything you share can be used against you, even if you’re filing your claim with a workers compensation law firm in Minneapolis.
If you’ve recently been injured at work in Minnesota, you may be wondering how social media fits into your claim. The truth is, it can have a bigger impact than you think.
Why Insurance Companies Check Social Media
Insurance companies are looking for ways to pay out as little as possible, and that includes using your social media content to suggest your injury isn’t as serious as you claim. It may sound extreme, but it happens.
Companies might search for photos, videos, check-ins, or comments that seem to contradict what you’ve reported.
Even something as simple as a smiling photo or a status update about going to a birthday party could be twisted to make it look like you’re exaggerating.
You might think your profile is private, but investigators often find workarounds. Posts shared by friends or tagged photos can still show up in public searches.
Common Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Claim
Most people don’t intend to damage their case – they’re just posting like they always do. Still, some posts can raise red flags for insurance adjusters.
Here are a few examples that can cause problems:
- Writing about your injury or workers’ comp claim
- Posting photos of yourself doing physical activities
- Sharing updates that suggest you’re more active than your medical restrictions allow
- Joking about your job or how the injury happened
- Checking in at places that don’t align with your recovery
Even vague posts can be taken out of context. A comment like “Finally getting back to normal” might feel harmless to you, but could be used to argue you’re not truly injured.
For this reason, many job injury lawyers in Minnesota would advise you to pause social media use while your case is ongoing.
Can They Use This Against You?
At a glance, it would seem that something as harmless as a social media post isn’t admissible as evidence. However, in Minnesota, information posted publicly can be used as evidence in any employee’s case.
If an insurance company or its lawyer sees something online that conflicts with your claim, they may use it to reduce or deny your benefits.
This doesn’t just apply during the early stages. Your social media activity can be monitored throughout the entire process, including appeals or settlement discussions. And once a claim is questioned, it can slow everything down or lead to a complete denial.
The admissibility of social media posts as evidence is one of the reasons work-related injury lawyers in Minnesota often warn clients to be cautious about what they post.
What You Should Do on Social Media After an Injury
You don’t have to delete your accounts, but you do need to be careful. A few smart decisions can make a big difference:
- Avoid talking about your injury, treatment, or workers’ comp case online
- Set your social media profiles to private
- Ask friends and family not to post photos or updates about you
- Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know
- Skip check-ins and location tags while your claim is open
If you’re unsure, take a break from social media altogether until your claim is resolved. When your health and income are on the line, it’s better to stay safe.
How Social Media Can Affect Your Settlement
Insurance companies often use posts as leverage during negotiations – if they find something that suggests you’re not as injured as you claim, they might offer a lower settlement or back out entirely.
We’ve seen strong cases get derailed over a single post. Aware of the risks, our job injury lawyers in Minnesota often help clients navigate not just the legal system but the digital risks that come with it.
What If You’ve Already Posted Something?
If you’ve already shared something online that you’re concerned about, don’t panic.
Stop posting and reach out to work-related injury lawyers near Minnesota.
Don’t delete anything until you get advice. Removing content could be seen as trying to hide evidence, which might hurt your case more than the original post.
The good news is that skilled job injury lawyers in Minnesota can still build a strong claim. These experts focus on your injury, your medical needs, and your legal rights, not on a single post.
Don’t Let a Single Post Ruin Your Claim
You shouldn’t lose your benefits because of a social media slip-up. If you’ve been hurt at work and are worried about your claim, we’re ready to help.
Contact our law firm today to schedule a consultation and start your comeback journey.