The internet revolution has led to the blurring of boundaries and shrinking of distances. The rise of social media networks has provided the opportunity to stay connected to anyone having an internet connection no matter where he lives. Facebook, twitter etc. has become a way of life and virtually everyone in the world seems connected through these platforms. However, if you are a victim of workplace injury, having an account on such social media platforms can prove to be a hurdle in getting your worker compensation claim.
Based on the information obtained from one’s social media accounts, the authorities can deny the compensation claims. For example, Zack got injured when a refrigerator fell on him while he was at work. He suffered from Hernia and underwent three surgeries. After getting compensated for one year, he took his case back to the commission with a request to extend the claim further. But his claim was denied on the grounds that the pictures on his MySpace account did not back up his claim of excoriating pain because in these pictures he was found partying and drinking.
Even if the privacy settings of your social media account are air tight, an insurance company could try to use one of your friends to collect information related to you. In other cases, they can also try to befriend you by sending you friend requests. Hence, injured workers should be aware of new friend requests from people they may not know. Even with strict privacy settings, Facebook data can be obtained through a subpoena.
Moreover, even if you do not have an activity going on from your side, posts by your friends can prove to be fatal for you. For example, in Zack’s case, the pictures were uploaded by a friend. An insurance company can deny a claim by using even a simple smiling picture of yours to prove that the injury was not as severe as you claim it to be. Hence, the workers should deactivate their Social Media accounts during the pendency of their case so as not to suffer from any unexpected damage.
The attorneys at Lyle B. Masnikoff and Associates have tremendous experience in workers’ compensation law and maintain a high standard of excellence in the representation of injured workers. They are dedicated to assisting the clients fight for their rights and benefits and go to great lengths to solve their problems.
