Social media is such a prevalent form of communication within modern-day society. Statistics show more than 94% of Canadians use at least one social media platform to stay connected with family and friends. While social media has its benefits it also has its disadvantages; especially when it pertains to a personal injury case.

Most people are not aware that public posts and personal direct messages made on social media platforms can be used as a form of evidence in court. It is becoming increasingly more common for defence lawyers to use your own social media posts against you in order to minimize compensation for your injuries. For example, if you were to post a photo of you and your dog at the park, the defending counsel may use this as evidence to suggest that your physical, emotional and mental injuries may not be as severe as you have claimed them to be. The innocent photo of you and your dog at the park can be used out of context by the defending counsel to help contradict your evidence.

For this reason, it is strongly suggested that you update or adjust your privacy settings on all social medial platforms to prevent your personal information from being used by the opposing lawyer throughout your personal injury claim.