Social media has taken the world by storm. From Facebook to Tiktok, most people are placing their lives on display for friends, family, and sometimes even strangers to see. Vacation photos, wedding or baby announcements, work, and personal life updates, there is so much information floating around about individuals, that it seems like you can learn anything about a person by just following them. However, this new habit of sharing the ins and outs of everyday life can lead to some unintended and negative consequences, especially when it comes to a personal or car accident injury claim.
Here are some things you need to keep in mind when it comes to the aftermath of your accident, social media, and your eligibility for compensation:
Understanding the Nature of Insurance Companies
Insurance companies are a necessary evil. While they do help provide much-needed support for an accident, by giving funds for medical treatments and damages, they are also a business. They may hide behind their heartwarming or lighthearted commercials, but the bottom line is, they are looking to protect their investments first.
When an individual is injured in an accident that was caused by the actions of someone else, then the at-fault party’s insurance company will send out an insurance adjuster to collect the facts that, they hope, will disprove your claim or allow them to give out the bare minimum in compensation. One of the avenues they use against the injured party is their social media accounts.
How Posting On Social Media Can Negatively Affect Your Claim
As mentioned earlier, insurance adjusters are looking for evidence that will allow them to reduce or eliminate the amount of compensation that a vehicle accident victim receives. This is done by gathering evidence through interviews with the victim and witnesses, looking over the damages done to both vehicles, and even checking their social media accounts. They are looking for signs that the victim is exaggerating or even faking the injuries they claimed were a result of the accident.
While a victim may not have said anything to hurt their claim in person or over the phone, their social media profile may be painting a different story. Pictures of the accident with captions that say things like, “Thank God I am okay!” or “It could have been so much worse” can devalue your claim. Even posting photos of activities that one is participating in after the accident can be used to show that your injuries were not as debilitating as the victim would have everyone believe.
The best thing to do after an accident is to contact a car accident attorney and stay off of social media, at least until the claim has been heard and accepted.
But My Accounts Are Private, How Can They See Them?
While individuals may feel safe by having their accounts set to “private” this is a false sense of security. Insurance companies and even the defense’s attorney has the right to view your posts to gather the evidence they need. The information they gather can include photos, conversations, and status updates.
How Can I Protect Myself and My Claim After an Accident?
If you have been involved in an accident, it is extremely important that you take the following steps:
- Ensure that all individuals involved in the accident are okay and call emergency personnel for injured parties.
- Contact the police to report the accident.
- Exchange contact information with the drivers and any witnesses at the scene of the accident.
- Take pictures of the accidents, including pictures of damages to the cars, scattered debris, and injuries you may have sustained.
- Go get checked out by a healthcare professional to get all injuries properly documented.
- Contact a car accident attorney right away to ensure that your rights are being protected and to ensure that you are getting the compensation you deserve.
It is so incredibly important that you do not post pictures of yourself, your injuries, the car accident scene, or anything on social media before your case can be fully heard. While it may be tempting to share what happened with your followers, doing so can harm your claim for full compensation.
However, if you have already shared pictures or information, your experienced car accident attorney will be able to help you navigate the next steps to ensure that you can get the compensation you deserve, and protect you from being bullied by the insurance companies.
Strengthen Your Claim By Partnering With Experience
The team at the Hernandez Law Group, P.C. has served countless car accident victims in the DFW Metroplex, Amarillo, and Abilene, Texas. We work around the clock to ensure that your case is heard in its entirety, that your rights are not being stepped on by the defense or the insurance company, and that you are set up for a successful recovery. While you focus on getting your life back on track, our team will be fighting to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact the Hernandez Law Group, P.C. today for more information on our services or to schedule a free no-obligation consultation to go over the facts of your case.