After a serious car accident, there’s a great temptation to take a picture of the damage and share it on social media. After all, you want your friends and family to know you’re alright. Although posting about your car accident on social media seems harmless, it could undermine your case and reduce your settlement.
Circumstantial Evidence
Picture this: You post a picture of your car in pieces. The vehicle is totaled, and you get dozens of sympathetic comments. Someone asks if you are okay. You reply, “I’m fine. No bleeding or broken bones.”
It doesn’t matter if you develop symptoms consistent with internal damage in the following days. The insurance company might cast doubt on the severity of your injury, arguing that you told people you were fine. This can significantly reduce your insurance settlement and make it harder to afford the treatment you need.
After the Accident
While you should never post about the accident itself, it’s equally important you avoid posts that could cast doubt on your injury and long-term pain. For example, if you’re tagged dancing in a Facebook video, the insurance companies can use that evidence to suggest the pain is not as severe as you claim.
Loss of Privacy
Your social media account can become evidence if you share anything about your accident. Investigators look at more than timeline posts; they will comb through your private messages, your comments, and anything else they might find.
When you share information about your accident, your account is open for a thorough investigation. The insurance companies will look for any little thing they can find that will cast doubt on your claim. For that reason, it’s safer to maintain social media silence until you reach a settlement.
If you suffered serious injuries in a car accident, you might have a case. If you’d like an experienced Minot personal injury attorney from Pringle & Herigstad to evaluate your claim, please send us an email or call (855) 245-5100.
