If you are off work due to an injury for which you are receiving workers compensation benefits, it’s understandable if you start getting bored with nothing to occupy your down-time.
For many New Yorkers, that’s a good reason to get on social media. But could that adversely affect your benefits?
Be careful what you post while on workers’ comp
It’s understandable that many people share their lives on social media, especially while they heal. Friends and family likely are concerned about your recovery process and social media posts are a way of giving everyone a heads up at once.
But you could do yourself and your workers’ compensation case a huge disservice if what you post calls into question the duration of your recuperation. You could even be accused of malingering if there are discrepancies in what you post and how you describe your symptoms.
Never assume posts stay private
It’s an illusion to think that everything you post online remains private. Yes, you can and should adjust your privacy settings, but that doesn’t mean that your posts can’t be viewed by others. In a worst-case scenario, a court can subpoena companies like Meta and X for access to social media feeds.
Use common sense to protect your benefits
Before posting anything online, ask yourself if it could be wrongly interpreted and affect your case. Are you posting pictures of yourself cannonballing into a pool or dancing in a club when you’re off work for a back injury? These are the types of social media postings that have derailed many workers’ compensation and personal injury cases.