Social media plays a big role in our lives today, and many of us like to post about what is going on in our lives, including personal experiences and difficult situations.
However, telling all of your followers about a Savannah car accident you were involved in may be a bad idea. Any information you share could be used against you by the insurance company and hurt your chances of obtaining fair compensation.
Posting Pictures That Show You Having Fun
Posting about your life events, including photos of your family get-togethers, barbecues with friends and other fun outings could hurt your personal injury claim. These kinds of pictures may give others the impression you were not hurt or that your injuries were only minor. Insurance companies or the attorney for the at-fault party might try to use this as evidence to deny or devalue your claim. They may argue that if you were really injured in an accident you would be laid up recuperating, not going to baseball games, concerts or traveling.
Discussing Specific Details of the Crash
Discussing any details about your car crash on social media is not recommended. Without realizing it, you could say something that is perceived as an admission of fault for the accident. You could also downplay the severity of your injuries. Insurance company representatives and/or attorneys may try to view your social media profiles to find any information to use against you. It is best to err on the side of caution and refrain from even mentioning that you were involved in a collision on social media.
Accepting Friend Requests from People You Do Not Know
One way to help protect your social media accounts from prying eyes is to refuse any friend request from someone you do not know. Insurance company representatives, attorneys or investigators may pose as someone else on social media to attempt to gain access to your profile. Friends or family members of the at-fault party may also try to gain access to your profiles to find information they can use against you.
Consider Time Off from Social Media
Being too active on social media can give the insurance company the wrong impression about your physical and mental well-being. Even if you suffered a minor injury in the crash, it is a good idea to stay off social media while you are recovering.
If you believe that you can rely on your social media privacy settings to protect you, you should be aware that courts have ruled that people should have no expectation of privacy on these platforms. Even direct messages, which are usually not intended to be viewed by anyone but the recipient, could potentially be used as evidence in a lawsuit.
If social media has been a daily part of your life, it may be very difficult to stay off your accounts. That is why you may want to consider deactivating or logging out of all of your accounts. This includes Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat or any other outlets you use.
Did You Already Post About Your Accident?
Have you already posted comments, pictures or other information to your social media accounts about the accident? If so, it may be better to leave it alone. Even though you might be worried about how those comments, videos or images could be perceived, going back to delete them after the fact could make it look like you have something to hide.
Injured in a Car Accident? Call Roden Law for a Free Consultation
You can discuss your accident with a licensed Savannah car accident lawyer from Roden Law. Your consultation is confidential and free, and you are under no obligation to take legal action. We can answer your questions and discuss whether you may have a case.