Social media posts could come back to haunt someone in many unexpected ways. Sometimes, comments could be interpreted in a way that causes trouble for the poster. Other times, the face-value, literal meaning may cause serious hassles. A California worker may even discover, to his or her dismay, that a social media post could complicate a workers’ compensation claim.
A workers’ compensation claim is a type of insurance claim. An employer pays for the insurance and an injured worker than files an insurance claim. Someone who, say, slips and falls at work, could file the claim to cover lost wages when the injury leaves him/her out of work.
For many people injured on the job, life goes on. Posting on social media could be an everyday activity for the injured person. Posting opinions about a movie or book might not raise any concerns. Posting video images of “hitting the weights” at a local gym may prove disastrous to a workers’ compensation claim. The insurance provider could keep track of a claimant’s social media post to look out for questionable claims. Someone too physically incapacitated to work will raise red flags when posting about physical activities, especially strenuous ones.
And the action need not necessarily be strenuous to create controversies. Comments about a daily walking regimen might lead to questions about a claim. If an insurer believes the claim is illegitimate, then the insurer may try to avoid paying.
Perhaps restricting social media activities might be best when dealing with an open workers’ compensation claim. Discussing physical activities, medical treatment, rehabilitation, financial matters, and the workers’ compensation claim could prove regrettable. Exercising caution and good judgment might be the best strategy.
Even something seemingly innocuous as posting “I’m okay” or things “Aren’t so bad” come with risks. The injured person may be struggling with a serious problem, but choosing to make things seem “okay” not to worry friends and family. Unfortunately, the insurance provider and the company’s attorney could take the sentiment as an indicator of potential fraud.
A workers’ comp attorney might prove helpful if issues arise after a social media post cause problems. An attorney could assist someone with a legitimate claim file an appeal or potentially straighten out a misunderstanding.