4 Reasons Car Accident Claimants Should Stay off Social Media
Social media has become an essential part of our everyday lives. We stay connected through posts, private messages, and regular photo updates. However, this new way of communicating has introduced fresh challenges when filing car accident claims.
Insurance adjusters and law firms can and do monitor the social media accounts of car accident claimants and defendants. Your social media account full of information about your life before and after the collision. Unfortunately, this information could be used as evidence to challenge your claim.
In this article, we look at a few reasons why you should steer clear of social media until your case has been resolved:
1. You May Accidentally Admit Fault
Initially, after a car accident, you might want to vent your frustrations online. However, these angry posts could lead you to admit fault without even realizing it. For instance, even relatively innocuous comments such as, “I never saw them coming” may be used by an insurance adjuster or opposing attorneys to argue that you weren’t paying attention while driving and thus contributed to the accident.
2. You May Downplay the Seriousness of Your Injuries
Healing from a serious injury can be a painful process, and it’s those small moments of joy that will help you stay sane. However, photo posts of you on vacation, spending time with your family in the park, or gardening could be used as proof that your injuries are not as serious as you claim and could give rise to a dispute regarding damages. It doesn’t matter that these snapshots were just a glimmer of happiness amid constant pain and suffering. Additionally, social media photos can become deadly ammunition in the hands of an insurance company looking to challenge your claim.
3. You May Give Away Sensitive Information
After an accident, you may want to share information and updates about your claim with family and friends. This is a big mistake. Any details you broadcast online will become public knowledge. You may also rescind certain confidentiality protections around specific information, potentially giving another party free access to sensitive medical and financial details. This information could be used to challenge your claim, giving rise to disputes over liability, causation, and damages that could extend proceedings or negatively impact the outcome of your case.
4. You May Disrupt Settlement Negotiations
If the insurance company is being unreasonable, it’s tempting to bad-mouth them or their policyholder on social media. However, those online rants certainly won’t help your case. Even if your criticism is justified, you should refrain from venting on social media.
Find a Car Accident Lawyer Near You
You may benefit from discussing the strengths and weaknesses of your claim with a skilled car accident lawyer. Furthermore, Attorneys for All can help you find a lawyer who has experience working on cases similar to your own. Contact us at (281) 475-4535 or send a message to info@claimyourcase.com to find a car accident lawyer near you.