Social media can be a great way to connect with family and friends, but when it comes to workers’ compensation, it could derail your ability to get benefits.
Social media provides a record of activities and statements. Someone from the insurer could gather evidence to use to deny your benefits. Insurance Provider Group explains that it is not only your social media accounts that they can use but also those of your friends and family.
Injury timing
One possible issue is that an insurer could claim your injury did not happen on the job or due to work activities. It could use pictures to show you doing activities that might also lead to your type of injury. For example, if you have a repetitive stress injury to your wrist, your social media posts showing that you write a lot in your free time could serve as evidence the injury is due to your hobby and not work.
Information
The insurer may also use it to show you provided incorrect information, such as dates. It can gather witnesses as well from your friends or connections on your account. If you say something negative about your employer, this may also serve the insurer’s case.
Use
While the insurer can look at any social media account you have public, it cannot make a friend request to see your private posts. So, it is a good idea to keep your accounts private. You should also refrain from posting anything about the incident and ask friends to not post anything about your situation or tag you in photos.
