Social media can help us connect with loved ones and stay updated on current affairs. When something major happens, we want to share the news with our community to receive their support. But it’s always best to keep things offline when it comes to car accidents. A seemingly innocent tweet or Instagram story has the potential to negatively impact your personal injury claim down the road.
Don’t Give the Insurance Company Ammunition Against You
The insurance company is on a mission to pay you as little as possible. Defense attorneys are always on the lookout for anything that can help their client’s case. One of the easiest ways to undercut your award is by using your social media posts against you. You can count on things being taken out of context, and they won’t be giving you the benefit of the doubt.
Let’s say you’ve been on bed rest for several weeks after the accident. One day, you’re in less pain than usual and decide to take your dog for a walk. You post a photo to your Instagram story with the caption “starting to feel like myself again.” The following day, you’re in a lot of pain
It’s often like this with social media. It’s easy to post the highlights and good moments, but we’re less inclined to post photos depicting our challenges. The dog walking photo may have been your only highlight after weeks of pain and suffering. But to a defense attorney, investigator, or judge, this one-off photo can suggest that you’re not as injured as you claim to be. The insurance company can use the photo to argue that you’re contributing to your own pain. When it comes down to it, a social media post can make or break your personal injury case.
With that in mind, we generally advise clients to try to keep their social media usage to a minimum while the case is being settled. Always remember that the simplest photo can be taken out of context.
Be very careful not to discuss anything about your case or your injuries online. The safest option may be to contact a Miami personal injury attorney.
Does Having a Private Profile Help?
Social media platforms all come with privacy settings that can help you to restrict access to your account. But a private social media profile can provide you with a false sense of security. Even if you’ve locked down your page, we still recommend keeping any details about the accident off the internet. What if one of your existing followers is friends with an employee of the insurance company? Investigators will go as far as creating “catfish” accounts to trick you into accepting a follow request. A private page isn’t always effective at keeping prying eyes away.
Moreover, if the matter proceeds to litigation, the defendant’s attorney can ask the court to compel you to grant access to your accounts. For these reasons, it’s best not to share anything that could possibly jeopardize your case.
Even After Deleting a Post, Screenshots Are Forever
Have you ever seen a celebrity or political candidate being criticized because of a tweet they made in 2014? Even after deleting the offending post, thousands of screenshots may have been taken. When you’re involved in a personal injury matter, you never know who may be watching your page. Investigators and insurance attorneys can even set up alerts so they can be notified as soon as you make a post. This way, they can get a screenshot before you have time to change your mind and delete the post.
Discuss the Case With Trusted Loved Ones and an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
You need a community for moral support when recovering from a car accident. It’s important to reach out to friends and family during this difficult time. Instead of oversharing on social media, deepen your connections with your loved ones. Phone calls, video chats, and text messages are great ways to keep in touch if face-to-face contact is difficult or impossible.
A trusted and compassionate personal injury attorney from Abogadas305 can offer legal guidance and support after a car accident. As we fight for full and fair compensation, we will keep you informed every step of the way. Schedule a consultation today.
