Should I Avoid Social Media While Waiting for a Workers’ Comp Settlement in Chicago?

A recent survey determined that the average Chicago resident spends over four hours per day on their phone – or over 15% of the entire day. A famous 2012 study by the University of Chicago also determined that the urge to check social media can be stronger than cigarette cravings. After filing a workers’ compensation claim in Chicago, resisting these urges could be very important. Your social media activities could affect your claim in ways you do not fully realize.

Why Is Posting on Social Media Such a Big Deal While Waiting for Workers’ Comp? 

At first, avoiding social media while waiting to hear back about your claim might seem like overkill. Social media could be particularly difficult to avoid if it plays a central role in your life. You should at least become familiar with the potential consequences of using social media while waiting for workers’ compensation. Most people are not fully aware of these issues.

Workers’ compensation claims inherently involve injuries. As a result, your activities after filing your claim must reflect the severity of your injuries. If insurers, employers, or the workers’ compensation program have reasons to doubt the legitimacy of your injury, you could face serious consequences.

Many social media mistakes are deceptively easy to make. For example, you might repost a video of yourself working out at the gym. Suppose this video was filmed before your injury, but you feel like posting it because you’re proud of what you accomplished that day. What if no witnesses or evidence can confirm the workout session occurred before your injury? What if your claim is denied because an investigator saw the video and jumped to conclusions?

Perhaps you suffered an injury and your doctor told you not to get the affected area wet for two weeks. You might post a picture of yourself sitting by a pool in your bathing suit. Even if you never actually got into the pool, you could still experience consequences if investigators notice the photo. Insurers might argue that since you were blatantly ignoring your doctor’s instructions, the injury is clearly illegitimate.

Even if you attempt to highlight the severity of your injuries on social media, this could backfire. Since you are not a medical professional, it is unwise to make statements about the nature of your injuries or your recovery process. You may unintentionally say or post things that could affect your claim.

This is why many workers’ comp lawyers recommend that their clients refrain from all social media posts until the claims process is over. It may still be acceptable to scroll through social media posts and view other people’s content without commenting or posting.

Can a Chicago Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Help Me? 

A workers’ compensation lawyer in Chicago may be able to help if you need help navigating your claim. Among other things, these legal professionals can steer you away from common mistakes – potentially decreasing the chances of a denied claim. To learn more about the best way to approach this process, speak with Connolly Injury Law today.

Sources: 

97zokonline.com/report-illinois-is-state-most-addicted-to-social-media/

news.uchicago.edu/story/study-finds-lure-entertainment-work-hard-people-resist