How Social Media Can Hurt Your Maryland Workers’ Compensation Claim

Workers’ compensation benefits in Maryland are provided through employers but paid for by insurers. These companies pay close attention to everything connected to your case, including your social media accounts. Photos, comments, and posts you make online can be used to deny or dispute your benefits.

Unfortunately, most injured workers are unaware of the risks. Our experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorney explains how insurers use your social media activity against you and ways to protect yourself until your claim is resolved.

How Insurers Use Social Media to Dispute Maryland Workers’ Compensation Claims

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that nearly 40,000 workers are injured on the job in Maryland each year. Most employers must provide workers’ compensation, which helps cover lost income and medical care.

These benefits are paid through insurers. According to the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC), they have broad latitude to investigate claims, which extends to publicly available social media content. Common practices that insurance companies use to challenge Maryland workers’ compensation claims:

• Posting photos or videos showing yourself engaged in physical activities that appear inconsistent with your injuries.
• Check-ins at locations or events that contradict reported limitations or attendance at medical appointments.
• Posts or comments where the claimant downplays their pain, the severity of their injuries, or how they happened.
• Tagged photos posted by friends or family members.

It does not matter whether your account is set to private. Insurance companies can find ways to access content through mutual connections, screenshots shared by others, or content that was public even briefly.

Protecting Yourself Online During a Maryland Workers’ Comp Claim

Whether you use social media for business or to keep up with loved ones, the best way to protect your Maryland workers’ compensation claim is to deactivate it until your case is resolved. However, we understand that may not be realistic for everyone. At a minimum, take these steps:

• Avoid posting any photos, videos, or updates about your physical activities, daily routines, or social outings while your claim is active.
• Do not comment on your injury, your employer, the insurance company, or any aspect of your workers’ comp case on any platform.
• Review your privacy settings on all accounts, but do not assume private settings fully protect your content from insurer access.
• Restrict tagging while your claim is pending.
• Avoid new friend or connection requests, as insurers may use fake profiles.

Keep in mind that even a seemingly innocent post can be taken out of context and used to undermine a legitimate claim.

To Protect Your Benefits, Contact Our Maryland Workers’ Compensation Attorney

Social media is one of the first places insurers look for evidence to use against you in Maryland workers’ compensation claims. Even a seemingly innocent post can provide the ammunition needed to challenge your benefits.

At Berman, Sobin, Gross, Feldman & Darby LLP, our experienced Maryland workers’ compensation attorney protects the rights of injured workers, guiding them through the claims process and helping them get the benefits they deserve. For trusted legal representation, request a consultation today.

Source:

bls.gov/regions/mid-atlantic/news-release/workplaceinjuriesandillnesses_maryland.htm