In the aftermath of a car accident, an instinct to share the experience on social media is understandable. It’s a way to quickly inform friends and family about your situation seek support, and vent frustration. However, it’s unfortunately not a good idea to speak about a crash or post-crash circumstances on social media after being involved in a car accident for several reasons.
In fact, if you’ve recently been involved in a crash, staying off social media altogether until your related insurance claims – and potentially even a personal injury case – are fully resolved can help you to protect your legal rights and interests as your legal and financial situation evolves.
Social media sites are minefields for personal injury victims
Anything you post on social media can potentially be used against you during negotiations and in court. Insurance companies and attorneys often meticulously comb through an individual’s social media accounts looking for evidence that could undermine their claims. For example, a casual comment or photo suggesting you’re not as injured as you have reported that you are can severely compromise your case. Even posts that seem unrelated to your accident or injuries can be misconstrued or used to challenge your credibility.
Social media posts are often made in an informal context, where nuances and subtleties of language can be lost. A seemingly innocent post can be taken out of context and interpreted as an admission of fault or an exaggeration of the circumstances surrounding the accident. This can give an insurer or an opposing legal team ammunition to question the validity of your claim and potentially reduce or deny your request or demand for compensation.
To that end, it’s important to keep in mind that insurance adjusters are skilled at minimizing payouts, and social media can provide them with the leverage they need to achieve this end in your case. Posts about physical activities, travel or even social outings after an accident can be interpreted as evidence that your injuries are not as severe as stated, affecting settlement negotiations adversely.
Ultimately, while it can be tough to stay off of social media, doing so until your case is resolved is an effort that your future self will almost certainly thank you for, given all that is at stake.