Should I Post to Social Media About My Car Accident?

Posted on October 14, 2020 in Car Accident

If you or somebody you care about has been injured or sustained property damage in an accident caused by another driver, there are various factors you need to consider when working to secure compensation for your claim. One thing that many accident victims do not think about is how posting to social media can affect their car accident claim.

Most of us do not think twice about signing into our online accounts to discuss our daily lives. Certainly, a car accident is a major event that you may want to share on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, etc. However, here, we want to discuss why posting to social media after a car accident is almost always going to be a bad idea.

Why social media is a trap after a car accident

Nearly everybody has some sort of social media account that they use to share their daily lives with family and friends. However, family and friends are not the only people that can see your social media. Even if you have the highest privacy settings on your accounts, strangers can still see what you post. This is particularly true if a family or friend inadvertently shares your post.

You can be sure that adjusters for the other party’s insurance carrier will be scouring the internet to look for your social media pages. They will be on the lookout for things you have said or activities that you have participated in that they see is inconsistent with the injuries you are claiming. An insurance claims adjuster can use anything you post on social media, whether it be plain text, a photo, or video, and twist it in a way that supports their position.

While it may be okay to make a simple post on social media letting people know that you have been in an accident, you need to avoid going into any detail about the incident. Do not share the ups and downs of your recovery or how frustrated you may be at the person who caused the crash.

You should also not post about any activities you participate in while you are still recovering from your injuries. For example, if you decide to go on a camping trip and post a picture of yourself in a canoe, an insurance claims adjuster may question how you were able to get on a boat and paddle if you have claimed an arm injury. What they may not see in the picture is that somebody else paddled for you, but that is not how they will present the evidence.

Most of us are conditioned to sharing things online now, but you really need to think about every little thing you post in the aftermath of a car accident. If you have any questions about whether or not something you post could be used against you, chances are you should not post it.

Speak to an attorney about your case

If you or somebody you care about has been injured in a car accident caused by the actions of another driver, speak to an attorney about your case immediately. An attorney will be able to get involved quickly and advise you about the steps that you need to take. Almost certainly, your lawyer will advise you against posting about the accident on social media. Let an attorney handle every aspect of your case and work to secure maximum compensation for your claim.