Social Media And Workers’ Compensation – Understanding The Adverse Effects

Social media is a vital part of everyone’s life, sharing almost everything on the internet. While social media can be a boon in other aspects, when it comes to Workers’ compensation claims, many people are unaware of how your claim gets affected with just your one move on social media platforms. 

Insurance companies can use your social media status to deny or lower your claim. You may not notice, but just a “single post” about your injury depicting that you are not injured can lead to adverse effects. You can contact an attorney to get information about workers’ compensation in Virginia and, after that, protect your claim. 

How does it affect your workers’ compensation claim?

The insurance company will investigate your claim to protect their money and ensure there is no fraud. While you may consider this a test of your honesty, the insurance company will examine and investigate all the evidence you or your attorney provided to prove your injury. Additionally, your social media presence is also a method of observation for the insurance company. 

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Here are a few situations where your claim may be affected even if your injuries are legitimate: 

1. You post pictures of you enjoying yourself at a pool or doing any physical activity while you claim your injury prohibits you from working. 
2. You or your friend/family posted an old photo without mentioning the date or mentioning that it is old. In such cases where there is no date mentioned, and you seem fine, the insurance company may use this post against you, saying you are not as injured as you claim to be. 
3. You post updates about your recovery or emotional recovery and state how happy you are with the progress. 

Even if you think that your profile is private and no one outside your followers can view your posts or stories, the insurance adjuster or the employer can access your profile to see what you are up to. If you have accidentally posted something and you deleted it within a few hours, there are chances that your posts can still be accessible to the insurance adjuster. 

Even a slight move depicting your injury is not severe can create a negative image in the eye of the insurance adjuster. While on workers’ compensation claims, it is essential to be extra careful about what you post online. Avoid posting any updates regarding your injury or claim. Furthermore, take advice from your lawyer if you should avoid social media or steps that will benefit your claim.