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Posting On Social Media After A Car Accident | Goodman Acker
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Posting on Social Media After a Car Accident

 

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The world of social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family. These popular media platforms are such a common part of daily life that most of us don't think twice about what we post. From check-ins and reviews, to photos and updates about our daily lives, these means of internet communication can leave us exposed to scrutiny by others.

Unfortunately, posting on social media after a car accident can negatively impact your claim and even cause damage to the outcome, including the compensation you might receive. While the language of your social media posts related to your car accident might seem trivial to you, representatives of insurance companies could see them very differently. They can be used to try to disprove your rights to a personal injury claim. Fortunately, Goodman Acker has put together a go-to list of the do's and don'ts of posting on social media after a car accident.

SOCIAL MEDIA MISTAKES AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT


The Don'ts of Posting on Social Media After Your Accident


When it comes to the don'ts of social media use after a car accident, the list is long. The long list is testament to just how important it is that you understand what is and isn't acceptable to post. Are you willing to risk your settlement because you posted something about your car accident and the wrong person saw it? Here are some potential pitfalls that can harm your claim. Avoid these social media mistakes after a car accident.

Don't discuss the accident.


We've all seen this happen before. Someone you know got into an accident and instantly posted about it on Facebook, maybe even including photographs of the vehicle damages or images of themselves in the hospital. Most posts simply are along the lines of “I'm recovering quickly,” or “I'm ready to be done with physical therapy and get back to normal life.”

While you may be tempted to post such information to keep your friends and family updated, you must refrain from doing so. Investigators may see it as evidence that your injuries are not as severe as your claim makes them seem.

Don’t make comments on others’ posts related to your accident or injuries.


Anything you share on social media is fair game, so if others can gather information about how your injuries do or don’t affect you by reading your comments, you could hurt your case.

Don't post videos on social media.


This goes for any platform, not just Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. If ever there were a way for people to find out how much your injuries do or do not limit your abilities to live and work, it’s through seeing and hearing you. The potential to harm your car accident claim is too great, so avoid sharing any videos.

Don't accept friend requests of people you don't know.



Goodman Acker suggests not accepting any new friend or follower requests, especially from people you don't know. Not accepting new friends helps protect you from opening up your profile to an opposing attorney, adjuster, or investigator who could potentially find evidence that can be used against you.

Don't post anything about your case.


This one should be a given. Posting about your accident and injuries is a very bad idea, but posting about your case can cause greater harm to your settlement. Anything regarding your claim or topics between you and your attorney should not be posted online.

Don't lie about the accident or what you were doing before it happened.


Everything posted online is This means that opposing attorneys can find out where you were, what you were doing, and at what time. It's easy to expose a lie, and being caught in a lie can also jeopardize your case.

We also provide detailed guidance about “do’s and don’ts” related to communications with insurance companies, generally.

What To Do After an Accident


While there are plenty of don'ts for social media following a car accident, there are also some do's. Here are some of the things you should make sure you do after being injured and filing a claim.

  • Update your social media privacy settingsIf your profiles aren't already private, it's time to make that happen. While no setting will completely hide your profiles, setting them to private will help protect your information during this time.

  • Ask your family and friends to keep information about your accident to themselves. While some of them may want to post to social media and keep others updated, this can backfire quickly. Encouraging them to keep your information private can prove to be beneficial to your case. Ask them not to tag you in photos or check-ins that can be used against you.

  • Be careful where you're checking in online. This feature is quite common and is used among friends to show where you've been and share places you enjoy with those who are following you. Avoid doing this after an accident. It may seem suspicious to investigators, especially if you're checking into a gym or somewhere else that requires physical activity.

  • Keep all your records about your car accident, but don't share them with the world. Anything you upload online can be instantly acquired by thousands of people who have access to your profiles. It's a good practice to take photos and keep them as evidence in case they're needed in your case, but you should only share these photos with your attorney.


To really protect yourself in the best way possible, it is in your best interests to completely stop using your social media profiles. This includes posting, commenting, or uploading photos. Keep in mind that social media is a public space, and even if you have the most restrictive privacy settings, what you share may make its way into the hands of the insurance company. It is a good idea to not share anything that could possibly be used against you in your personal injury claim.

Example of How Social Media Can Be Used Against You


We post this example in order to help you with your auto accident claim. While being in a car accident may seem dramatic or like something that can't happen to you, it did. And it can happen again. Consider the following example before sharing your information about your car accident on social media.

Imagine that you're injured in a rear-end accident on a Friday, and you've hurt your back. You've gone to the ER and physical therapy but are still experiencing pain. You're in court, and the opposing attorney has a printout of your social media page with a check-in several days before the trial at a local beach, a trampoline park, or your gym. Perhaps you posted about doing yard work.

Remember that post where you asked your followers for help with alleviating back pain from an injury that occurred on Wednesday, prior to the accident on Friday? This information can all be used against you with the argument that your injury occurred before the accident, perhaps at the trampoline park. While we don't discourage social media use in general, we do discourage you from posting extra details that can prevent you from getting the compensation you deserve.

Goodman Acker will fight to get you a settlement, but mistakes such as these can significantly impact your claim and possibly your settlement.

OUR ATTORNEYS ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA AND CAR ACCIDENTS


FAQs About Posting to Social Media After an Accident


Can insurance companies see what I post on social media?

Possibly, yes. Depending on your privacy settings, insurance company representatives may be able to view some or all of your posts. They may also be able to view your comments on others’ posts. Their motivation is to keep the amount of your settlement offer as low as possible, so they will look for ways to prove your injuries are less serious than you and your attorneys claim they are. They will also look for information that addresses other components of a settlement amount, such as:

  • How your injuries do or do not limit the daily activities you can perform

  • How your injuries may prevent you from working or from some of your work activities

  • Ways to dispute your claims of emotional trauma or pain and suffering.


Can I mention the other parties involved in the accident on social media?

Avoid mentioning or discussing the other parties involved in the accident on social media. Such interactions might complicate matters legally and potentially lead to privacy or defamation issues.

Can social media posts be used as evidence in my case?

Yes, social media posts can be used as evidence in legal proceedings related to your car accident. Insurance companies and legal teams may use your posts to evaluate the extent of your injuries, your behavior after the accident, and more. They have many tactics to try to keep the amount of your settlement as low as possible.

Can insurance companies see my private messages on social media?

Possibly. Depending on the way your claim proceeds, and especially if your case goes to court, your messages may be fair game. Even if you are aware that what you post publicly could hurt your case, you might assume private messages are safe. Don’t. Instead, assume that anything you share in written or video content anywhere online, not just on social media, may find its way into the hands of the insurance company and its attorneys.

Can I delete my social media posts after the accident?

Deleting social media posts after a car accident can be perceived as an attempt to hide information, which could raise suspicion. It's better to refrain from deleting anything until the case is resolved.

Should I seek legal advice before using social media after the accident?

Yes, it's advisable to consult with a legal professional before using social media after a car accident. Talk with our team at Goodman Acker today so you are sure to get strong legal representation immediately after your accident. Our attorneys can provide guidance on what to share, what to avoid, and how your online activity may impact your case.

TURN TO OUR TRUSTED TEAM OF ATTORNEYS


How Goodman Acker Can Help You


If you need a personal injury attorney after experiencing an auto accident, reach out to the skilled team at Goodman Acker at 248-286-8100. Our attorneys have the expertise you need in understanding the laws related to what access insurance companies can have to your social media posts and messages. We can help answer any questions about your case and what is and isn't appropriate to post on social media following your car accident. You can schedule your risk-free consultation with one of our expert lawyers. The initial consultation is free -- and if we take your case, you only pay if we win.

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