Social Media Photos Horrify Family of Crash Victims

 Posted on October 18, 2016 in Personal Injury

DuPage County car accident lawyerAs you can probably imagine, social media sites can be very dangerous if you are seeking damages for injuries caused in a car accident or another type of personal injury claim. Facebook and Instagram posts may present an image of your life that is very different from the reality, but, taken out of context, certain photos and content may impact your credibility and call your claims of serious injury into question.

There are other dangers associated with social media, as well: its ubiquitous nature and the disconnect that seems to exist between some social media users and the real world. Some people become so obsessed with sharing every moment on Facebook that they neglect to notice how their sharing may affect other people. Such was the tragic case last year when the family of an accident victim was forced to learn of their loved one’s death via grisly images posted to Facebook.

Tragedy on the Highway

In June of 2015, a Downers Grove woman began receiving condolences by text message and email from friends and family members regarding the death of her 21-year-old daughter. There was only one problem—the woman had not yet been informed by police that her daughter had been killed in a motorcycle accident on the Eisenhower Expressway. Even worse, many of the friends and family who were contacting the woman had learned about the death on Facebook, some of them even seeing gruesome photos of the accident’s aftermath.

What Can Be Done?

This is far from the only example of social media sharing of disturbing accident photos. Similar stories have been shared by many affected families, each of them expressing outrage and disgust at the callousness of the posters who seem not to care about the impact of their actions. Some have even suggested that lawmakers find ways to curtail the dissemination of such images or videos.

While those who shoot and post disturbing photos and images claim that the public has the right to know about things that are happening around them, government officials recognize the concerns of affected family members. Prohibiting picture-taking or filming in a public place, however, threatens to seriously infringe on First Amendment rights. Therefore, officials and lawmakers are looking for ways to encourage personal responsibility for social media posts rather than legislating people’s behavior.

Hurt in an Accident?

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact an experienced DuPage County personal injury lawyer. Schedule your free initial consultation at Martoccio & Martoccio by calling 630-920-8855 today. We will work hard to protect your rights and help you get the compensation you deserve.

Sources:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/06/29/four-killed-in-pair-of-weekend-motorcycle-accidents/

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-car-crash-photos-social-media-met-20161016-story.html

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