One of the very first suggestions that we make to all new clients is to temporarily shut down any and all social networking accounts that they have on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, and any other site you use to network on the internet.

We stress the importance of closing these accounts until your case is over because anything you write or post will likely fall into the hands of the defense attorney for the insurance company you are seeking money from. Insurance companies are using social media sites to obtain as much information against people seeking claims as they possibly can. They will try to obtain this information without your knowledge, and have become experts in twisting your pictures and written posts into evidence against you to prove that you were never actually inured or that your injuries are not as serious as you are claiming.

If you choose not to fully close your accounts at least make sure that your settings are on private and do not post anything, text or pictures that could be used against you. But remember, even with your settings at the highest possible security level these sites are still open to the public and your activity could fall into the wrong hands.

With so many people using social networking sites to keep in touch with friends and family, insurance companies, investigators and defense attorneys have increased their electronic surveillance to monitor people that are filing injury claims. They are looking for any information that will prove your claim to be false, and oftentimes this means taking photos and comments they find out of context and using it against you. We have seen insurance companies take innocent joking between friends and distort it into making the injured victim seem like he or she is faking their injuries.

Taking down social networking profiles could potentially be the difference between getting the settlement you deserve and not getting anything; which would you prefer?

The safest move is to take down your sites completely until your case is over. I know that for most people, social networking is a part of everyday life and not everyone is open to the idea of taking down their profiles. So, if you decide to keep your profiles up with the private setting here are a few recommendations that could make a big difference for your case:

DO NOT…

• Allow anyone to become your “friend” on a social networking site unless you are positive that you know and trust that person.
• Post any photographs or video of yourself, and request that your friends do not post anything with you in it as well. If you are “tagged” in a photo, ask whoever posted it to take the picture down, and at the very least, “un-tag” yourself in the picture.
• Write anything about yourself that you would not want the opposing side to bring up in a trial.
• Send emails or text messages to anyone about your case except your attorney.
• Participate in online discussions about your case, including blogs, chat rooms and message boards.

At Premier Law Group it is our job to get you the best possible settlement, but to do that it will require some work on your part. If you need help dealing with your personal injury claim, contact the experienced Seattle personal injury lawyers at Premier Law Group today at (206) 285-1743 for a FREE consultation. For more information, you can get my books on Washington auto accident law for FREE by going to http://www.plg-pllc.com/books.

One of the most dangerous professions in the United States is construction work. Every year, there are hundreds of thousands of injuries suffered by construction workers. While L&I can help injured employees, it is not always sufficient in providing the money they need to cover their damages. Construction work is inherently dangerous, but it is the duty of the construction company to provide a safe working environment for their employees. Due to the resources available for construction companies to fight injury cases, it is important for all construction workers to know that they can seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney to help them fight for the compensation they deserve.

There were over 26,000 construction site injuries that forced an employee to take time off work in 2009. This means that for every 10,000 construction workers, 382 of them sustained an injury serious enough to force them to miss work. Because of the serious nature of construction accidents, the average time missed from work due to an on-the-job injury was 14 days in 2009. 33% of those injured missed more than a month from work. Almost any injury that forces someone to miss this much time from work will be serious enough to require expensive medical care. The combination of high medical bills and a loss of income can put an injured construction worker in a very difficult situation.

Unfortunately, construction accidents can cause more than just an injury, and lead to a fatality. Construction work continuously tops all other professions in work-related fatalities every year. In 2009, 819 construction workers died due to accidents on the job. In situations where these deaths are caused by the negligence of the construction company, close family members of the victim may have cause to file a wrongful death lawsuit. These cases are very complicated and can be very emotional for the family involved, so it is always important to speak with an attorney with plenty of wrongful death experience to see what the best course of action is.

While not every construction injury will require the services of a personal injury attorney, there is nothing to lose by scheduling a free consultation. Here at Premier Law Group, you can give our experienced Seattle personal injury lawyers a call at (206) 285-1743 for a free consultation. We will give you straightforward and honest answers to all of your questions, even if that means telling you that your case does not require an attorney. For more information, you can get my books on Washington auto accident law for free by going to http://www.plg-pllc.com/books.