Don’t Let Social Media Ruin Your Car Accident Claim
Michael Babboni
Car Accidents
We're more attached to social media than ever before. In the year 2005, only 5% of American adults used social media, and in 2019 this number grew to 79%. It’s become our way to make new friends, keep in touch with old ones, maintain professional connections, and keep up with family that may be far away. While there is a lot to be celebrated about social media, there is a such thing as sharing too much. After you’ve been in an accident of any kind, and you’re pursuing a personal injury case, it’s best to put your social media on pause so you don’t wind up inadvertently sabotaging your case.While it might seem natural to post that to-die-for meal you had at your favorite restaurant, post a few photos from that concert you loved, or share your vacation snapshots, any of these posts can be used against you if you’re in the process of claiming an injury.
It's not just photos that can hinder your case, but regular posting as well. A few ways social media can impact your car accident claim are:
• It can be used as “proof” you’re not actually injured – If you’re busy posting about the activities you’re enjoying, an insurance provider or negligent party might use this information to “prove” that your injuries aren’t that severe or that they were never really sustained at all. If you post a photo of you enjoying time with family at a barbecue, you could be in immense pain while the picture was being taken, but the insurance provider or negligent party will only see the smile on your face and you standing on your own two feet. Even if the photo only required you to stand for a second, the picture doesn’t show the full story so it’s easy to spin into a piece of evidence against your case.
• Casual commenting might place blame on you – If you’re having a conversation about your accident with a friend casually on social media, anything you say can be used against you in your case. For instance, if you say “I was so tired at the end of that night!” this could be spun in a way to suggest that you were driving tired and that the auto accident you’re seeking a claim for was actually caused by your own negligence.
• Engaging too much might suggest that your “distress” is less than you claim – While you’re injured, social media might be your only social outlet, which can be a great comfort to some deeply wanting connection while they’re struggling to recover. However, if you seem too “happy” on social media, this could be used to prove that you’re not as distressed as you claim to be.
What If My Profile Is Private?
Some may believe that having a “private” profile is enough, and that they can post freely as long as they tighten up their security settings. Unfortunately, nothing on the internet is truly private, and if an opposing party in your claim decides to investigate your online habits further, they can even if your profile has those privacy settings. Because of this, it’s better to limit your interactions and postings on social media while you’re seeking an accident claim regardless of your privacy settings.
If you’ve been in an accident and you’re looking to be savvy about your safe social media use, contact us at TheStPeteLawyer.com to learn more about keeping your case safe today.