Here’s How Social Media Can Affect Your Chicago Workers’ Compensation Claim

Social media has become a big part of our lives. Pew Research Center reports that out of ten Americans, seven use some kind of social media platform. But while social media can be a valuable tool, it can also have unintended consequences. For instance, if you suffered a work-related injury or illness and are involved in a workers’ compensation claim, social media can adversely affect the outcome of your case if you are not careful. This article discusses how social media can affect your Chicago workers’ compensation claim.

How Can Social Media Affect Your Chicago Workers’ Compensation Claim?

If you are involved in a workers’ compensation claim, you can be sure that your employer and the insurance company will be monitoring your social media accounts. Employers and workers’ compensation insurance providers know that employees share a lot on social media. Your employer and the insurance company will be looking at your social media platforms to see if you are honest about your injuries or illness. Your employer and the insurance company will be looking at your social media to see if you are lying about the extent of the harm suffered. They will be looking for evidence they can use against you.

If you post updates, pictures, or videos suggesting you are not as injured or as ill as you claim to be, your employer and their insurance company will use that as evidence to devalue or deny your claim. For example, suppose you claim you suffered a severe back injury and then post a picture of you lifting your child. The insurance company may use this picture against you to claim that you are not as severely injured as you claim. While you might think a picture of you lifting your child is innocent, your employer and the insurance company may use such a picture against you. If you said you cannot lift heavy things, the insurance company may say you lied. They may also argue that lifting a child is not something you should be doing if you have a severe back injury.

In addition to looking for direct evidence they can use against you on social media, your employer and the insurance company will be looking for inconsistencies. For instance, suppose you tell your treating physician that your condition has not improved, and then you post on social media that you are feeling better. In such a case, your employer and the insurance company may get doubts about the validity of your claim. It is crucial to avoid posting anything on social media that could call into question your credibility.

Tips for Responsible Social Media Use During a Workers’ Compensation Claim

The best thing to do if you are involved in a workers’ compensation claim is to stay off social media until your case is resolved. However, if you can’t stay off social media, the following are some tips for responsible social media use during your claim;

• Do not post anything related to your claim
• Keep your privacy settings high
• Be consistent in what you say online and offline
• Be mindful of what you post
• Avoid accepting friend requests from people you do not know
• Don’t use a work-supplied device

Finally, avoid deleting existing posts or accounts. If you do, you may be accused of destroying evidence.

Contact Us to Schedule a Consultation

Contact a skilled Chicago workers’ compensation lawyer at Connolly Injury Law to schedule a consultation and discuss your workers’ compensation case.

Source:

pewresearch.org/internet/2021/04/07/social-media-use-in-2021/