Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and others are a way for many of us to stay connected. Most people post about what happens in their lives, so it can feel natural to share information about car accident you’ve been in. The Florida car accident claims attorneys and Flaxman Law Group always advise our clients to not post after a car crash.
While posting online can help you get reassurance from friends and family and can be important for social support, there are three big reasons why posting can negatively affect your insurance or legal claim:
- Any posts showing the accident or your injuries can be used by attorneys for the other driver. Let’s say you post a picture of your injured arm. Attorneys for the other driver can use that photo to claim that you’re not as injured as your claim suggests, even if that’s not true. Any photo you post about the accident or your injuries will be carefully scrutinized.
- Posts showing your drinking or having fun before your accident can be used against you. Attorneys for the other driver can try to claim you were drinking and driving or that you were distracted. They can try to portray you as less than serious. There’s not much you can do about photos and posts you created before your accident. Even if you delete them, they can still be recoverable. In this situation, the best thing to do is to tell your car accident claims attorney about any social media profiles you have. Your attorney is then prepared for any claims the other side may make.
- Simple images showing you smiling or doing something fun can be used against you. Imagine you’ve been seriously injured and after a few weeks, while you still can’t work, you have a slightly better day. You take a photo of yourself sitting outside in the sunshine and you label the post “sunny day.” It’s perfectly innocent, but attorneys for the other side may claim you’re fully recovered or that you’re not seriously injured. Even perfectly innocent posts can be used against you.
Don’t think posting to a “private” account makes a difference, either. Posts from private accounts can still sometimes be seen if someone comments on them or shares a post with others. Even if you post under another name, your posts could be found if an insurer or attorney uses a private investigator to track your online activity. It happens.
What You Should Do About Social Media After a Car Accident
If you’ve been in a car accident in South Florida, stop posting on social media after your accident. If you’re seriously injured, you may want to speak with a Florida car accident claims attorney at Flaxman Law Group. Just give us a call at 866-352-9626 to set up a free, no-obligation consultation. We have 60+ years of experience and over $100 million recovered for clients. We can help you understand whether you have a claim and can help you create a social media strategy to make sure you don’t hurt your chances of getting fair compensation.