Can Social Media Hurt Your Personal Injury Case? Yes! Here’s How

Criminal Law Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner named to Wisconsin Super Lawyers, an honor reserved for the top 5%.

Attorney Tracey A. Wood is the only female lawyer in Wisconsin to have been named Top 5% DUI Attorneys, Top 25 Women In Law & appointed to National College for DUI Defense Board of Regents.

NOT GUILTY of sexual assault: First Degree Sexual Assault - Repeated Acts of Sexual Assault. A Prairie du Chien - Crawford County Wisconsin - jury found Attorney Van Wagner's client not guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault.

Refusal conviction reversed on appeal by drunk driving defense Attorney Tracey Wood. Wisconsin Court of Appeals says gradual coloring outside the lines is not sufficient probable cause for a stop and the subsequent arrest evidence is "fruits of the illegal stop."

DISMISSED 9 Felony Counts Sexual Assault of Child Attorney Chris Van Wagner said, "She was a victim of sexual assault, not an offender! Justice was served. If new charges are filed, we will defend her."

Wisconsin's first ever attorney appointed to Board of Regents for National College for DUI Defense, Attorney Tracey is a successful drunk driving defense lawyer with Van Wagner & Wood of Madison, Wisconsin.

NOT GUILTY of murder: Defendant confesses to murder & mayhem; jury acquits." Not since the OJ Simpson trial has a jury been more believing," Chris Van Wagner said, "The jury believed Meng."

Attorney Tracey Wood authors "Challenging Prior Operating While Intoxicated Convictions", published in Wisconsin Defender, a special trade journal for criminal defense law.

Court TV Commentator, Attorney Christopher Van Wagner explains Vang's Wisconsin hunting and murder case. See WI Felon Hunting

NOT GUILTY: Federal theft conversion & conspiracy charges in largest military base theft of 153 vehicles, Tracey Wood's client was facing felony charges of 15 years in prison & $500k in fines; 3 others were convicted.

Can Social Media Hurt Your Personal Injury Case? Yes! Here’s How

When you’ve been injured in an accident, it’s natural to want to share your experience with friends and family online. A quick update or photo might seem harmless, but if you’re pursuing a personal injury claim, what you post on social media can do more harm than good.

Insurance companies and defense lawyers are trained to look for anything that can weaken your claim. One of the first places they check? Your social media profiles. That selfie you posted at a friend’s birthday party or a simple status update about your weekend plans might be used to question the severity of your injuries.

Let’s say you filed a claim stating that your back pain prevents you from working or doing everyday tasks. But a few days later, you share a photo of yourself at a family gathering, smiling and holding a toddler. That one moment might not tell the full story, but to the other side, it could suggest you're exaggerating your injuries.

Even posts that aren’t directly about your accident can be risky. A picture of you out for dinner, a check-in at a local gym, or a comment like “Feeling better today” could be taken out of context. The truth is, healing isn't always linear. You might feel okay one day and terrible the next. But online, your story is reduced to snapshots, and those snapshots can be misleading. That’s why speaking with an attorney early in your case is so important. At the Law Offices of Daniel Kim, clients are advised on how to manage their social media presence and avoid common pitfalls that could weaken their claims.

It’s not just your posts you need to worry about. Friends tagging you in photos or commenting on your condition can also be used in court. A well-meaning “Glad to see you up and about!” under a picture could raise doubts about your claim. Even if the post is innocent, it can be twisted to work against you.

Another thing to keep in mind is privacy settings. Many people assume that if their account is set to private, they’re safe. Unfortunately, that’s not always true. Courts have ruled that social media content can sometimes be subpoenaed during a lawsuit. If the defense believes your posts are relevant to your injury or recovery, they can request access, and the court may allow it.

So, what can you do to protect your case? The safest approach is to pause your social media activity altogether while your claim is active. If going offline completely isn’t realistic, then at the very least, avoid posting anything about your health, your accident, your recovery, or your daily activities. Ask friends and family not to tag you in posts or share anything about your condition.

Also, speak with your lawyer early about your social media habits. A good attorney will walk you through what’s okay to post and what to avoid. They’ve seen how simple posts can be spun in court and can help you navigate the digital space more safely.

In personal injury cases, credibility matters. Every post, photo, or comment you share can be taken as a reflection of your life after the accident. Being cautious online might feel like a small step, but it could protect the outcome of your case in a big way.

		Madison WI Toll Free FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION :: map :: BOOKMARK :: E-MAIL :: submit :: CRIMINAL CASE :: OWI CASE

		Criminal Law Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner named to Wisconsin Super Lawyers, an honor reserved for the top 5%. Attorney Tracey A. Wood is the only female lawyer in Wisconsin to have been named Top 5% DUI Attorneys, Top 25 Women In Law & appointed to National College for DUI Defense Board of Regents. NOT GUILTY of sexual assault: First Degree Sexual Assault - Repeated Acts of Sexual Assault. A Prairie du Chien - Crawford County Wisconsin - jury found Attorney Van Wagner's client not guilty of multiple counts of sexual assault. Refusal conviction reversed on appeal by drunk driving defense Attorney Tracey Wood. Wisconsin Court of Appeals says gradual coloring outside the lines is not sufficient probable cause for a stop and the subsequent arrest evidence is "fruits of the illegal stop." DISMISSED 9 Felony Counts Sexual Assault of Child Attorney Chris Van Wagner said, "She was a victim of sexual assault, not an offender! Justice was served. If new charges are filed, we will defend her." Wisconsin's first ever attorney appointed to Board of Regents for National College for DUI Defense, Attorney Tracey is a successful drunk driving defense lawyer with Van Wagner & Wood of Madison, Wisconsin. NOT GUILTY of murder: Defendant confesses to murder & mayhem; jury acquits." Not since the OJ Simpson trial has a jury been more believing," Chris Van Wagner said, "The jury believed Meng." Attorney Tracey Wood authors "Challenging Prior Operating While Intoxicated Convictions", published in Wisconsin Defender, a special trade journal for criminal defense law. Court TV Commentator, Attorney Christopher Van Wagner explains Vang's Wisconsin hunting and murder case. See WI Felon Hunting NOT GUILTY: Federal theft conversion & conspiracy charges in largest military base theft of 153 vehicles, Tracey Wood's client was facing felony charges of 15 years in prison & $500k in fines; 3 others were convicted.