Today, too many people share the personal details of their daily lives with the world through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. While you may use social media to keep up with friends and family, after being injured in an accident, you must be extremely careful regarding the information you share. This is especially true if you are pursuing a personal injury claim for your injury.
Do not assume your posts are private – the information you put out online may be obtained by the defense’s insurance company and used against you in an effort to lower the amount you receive or deny your claim outright. Do not depend on privacy settings to keep your social media content private either.
Below, our experienced Harrisburg personal injury attorneys walk you through the social media mistakes to avoid when you file a personal injury claim. For assistance with your claim, schedule a free, no obligation consultation today.
Disclosing Details About Your Accident
Do not post about your accident on your social media accounts, even if the content seems innocent. Posts that say you were just in an accident but are ok can be used to discredit your injuries. A photo of you smiling after the accident can be used in the same manner against you.
Accidents are traumatic and it is natural for some people to want to share details with those they are close to – social media is an easy platform to communicate through. People have a tendency to share what they feel is good news versus information about their struggles, which can be used by insurers and defense attorneys to show your injuries are not as severe as your claim states.
Posting Photos or Video Related to the Accident
While it is important to capture the accident scene in photos or video for your own attorney’s use, never share any of this valuable evidence publicly. This includes not posting the following:
- Vehicle damage
- The accident scene
- Photos from the hospital
- Your injuries
- Dashcam footage
The defense will go over this evidence in search of details that can be used against you.
Sharing Your Medical Information
Never post your medical information on social media. Your statements about your injuries, condition and recovery can be used to contradict your claim of certain injuries and their severity. You do not want to give the other side medical information except through requested medical records completed by medical professionals.
Any statements you make about your condition can be used to claim you are not as injured as your claim suggests, therefore reducing your settlement. Do not make statements such as “I am feeling fine” or even positive or uplifting statements regarding your recovery.
Letting Friends or Family Post About Your Case
Do not let your friends or family make any posts about your case. Turn on approval for tagged posts on social media, where you can review tags and posts from your friends and family while your claim is open. Insurance companies and defense attorneys are able to look through these tagged posts for information that could hurt your claim.
Admitting Fault or Apologizing
You should never make any statements on social media that can be misconstrued to claim you have admitted fault for an accident. A simple “I am sorry” or a statement such as “I wrecked my car” can be used to suggest you claim liability for the accident.
Accepting New Friend Requests During Your Investigation
You should not accept any new friend requests when you are making a personal injury claim, from the time of your accident until the claim is settled. There is always a possibility that a new friend or follower is someone from the insurance company or the defense who is looking for material in your social media history to use against you.
Lock down your social media accounts and make previous posts private. Do not accept friend or follow requests until your claim is settled or the trial has ended.
Contact Our Legal Team Today
If you were injured in an accident, you should hire a personal injury lawyer who can advise you of your rights. Our legal team can guide you through the legal process, advise you what to do and what not to do and pursue the at fault party for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Request a free, no obligation consultation now to learn more your legal options. We charge no upfront fees and payment is only due if we recover compensation for you.
Call (717) 888-8888 or complete our Free Case Review form now.