Insurers are Trolling the Waters Looking for You

I have accounts with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. I use them every now and then to stay in touch with clients and friends when there's something interesting happening at The Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya. But I'm careful about what I post - and you should be too.

Insurance companies use these sites to dig up information about accident victims and try to use it against them to reduce compensation, or deny a claim entirely. A story in the Los Angeles Times reports that private investigators for insurance companies are using social network sites to investigate plaintiffs.

As The Times story put it, PIs who once were only able to shadow plaintiffs, looking for the right moment to snap some action photos of those who claimed to have been seriously injured on the job and who filed a workers' compensation claim, or who were injured in car accidents, now get evidence without ever leaving the office - just by surfing the Internet.

Chances are pretty good you probably have a social networking page such as Facebook. And I'm sure you don't plan to get into an accident. But why take a chance? Be very careful of what you post. Photos, jokes or things you write in a kidding manner, or things others say about you or events you've participated in - insurance companies use everything.

Insurance companies are not your friend. Assume that an insurer - just as would an employer, bank or other organization - is going to look for that information and use it against you.

If you'd like some examples of the things I've seen, give me a call at (303) 758-4777 or email me at DLS@dlslawfirm.com. I'd love to talk with you.