When you keep in touch with family and friends through social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, it is natural that you would want to inform them about your car accident and post updates about your injuries. However, posting information on social media sites can damage your claim and may force you to accept a lower settlement than you deserve.
5 Ways Posting on Social Media Can Hurt Your Car Crash Claim
Even if the other driver’s negligence is clear, his insurance company will most likely do what it can to deny or reduce your claim—including searching your social media accounts to look for ways to discredit you. It is best not to post anything about your accident or injuries on social media. In fact, it is a good time to take a break from social media entirely—at least until your claim has been resolved. Here’s why:
- Damaging comments. You could inadvertently admit fault on social media or make inconsistent statements as you post about the crash and your injuries. These statements, even though they might be taken out of context or aren’t what you really meant, may reduce your credibility—and reduce the value of your claim.
- Pictures. Pictures of you participating in activities that are not consistent with your injuries—even if the photos predate your crash—could be used to show that your injuries are not as significant as you claim.
- Location information. Insurance adjusters could use location information to claim that you are engaging in activities that you should not be able to do given your injuries. In some cases, you may be at this place for a totally innocent purpose. For example, you may go to a child’s birthday party at a bowling alley—but you may not be bowling. However, the mere fact that you were there could raise suspicions.
- Posts by friends and family. Not only could your own social media posts hurt your case, but posts by friends and family—ones that contain photos of you or comments about your accident or injuries—could also be used to reduce your credibility.
- Friend requests. Once you file a claim, insurance adjusters may try to gain additional access to your pictures and social media posts by sending you a friend request. That is another good reason to be wary about accepting friend requests from people you don’t know.
Our Free Referral Service Can Get You the Legal and Medical Help You Need
If you suffered injuries in a car accident in the Twin Cities, it is important to obtain both prompt medical care and legal advice. That’s where our FREE service referral service comes in. With one phone call, you can get the help you need: a skilled doctor to treat your injuries and an experienced attorney to handle your car accident claim. To get started, call 763-251-PAIN—our local accident experts are standing by to assist you.