What to Know about Social Media and Your Personal Injury Claim

Even though your cell phone can help you collect evidence after a car accident, you shouldn’t post any of those pictures or videos to social media. Immediately following an accident, you probably want to let your friends and loved ones know about your situation. Yet posting on social media can compromise your accident case in the long run, meaning you shouldn’t post, or else you’ll potentially harm your chances of compensation. Instead, you should contact Brassfield & Krueger, LTD to speak to a car accident attorney who can help you pursue a settlement. We offer individualized advice that’s specific to your case at a consultation. 

What Is Social Media’s Impact on a Personal Injury Claim?

Personal injury claims allow those hurt in traffic accidents to seek compensation for property loss and injuries they sustained. In order to receive compensation, the individual must file a personal injury claim, and the process is often complicated. Social media can be used by the other party to minimize their liability and limit the amount of compensation they will have to pay.  

Admitting any liability, expressing remorse or suggesting the person might not be as injured as they claim can reduce the settlement. As such, social media should be avoided following a crash to avoid harming the chances of receiving compensation. 

Reasons Social Media Is So Risky

Keep in mind that you don’t have a right to privacy on social media. Anything you share can easily be accessed by opposing parties, their attorneys and insurance adjusters and potentially used against you. Whereas emails and text messages generally require a warrant to access, social media posts do not have these protections and are instead considered to be public statements. No matter how careful you are to maintain tight privacy settings, it’s still possible to find statements that can damage your claim. 

5 Things You Shouldn’t Post On Social Media Following An Accident

There are several items that shouldn’t be posted to social media after an auto accident, including: 

• Admissions of Fault. Never say anything that can be interpreted as an admission of fault, guilt or legal liability. This can be a statement as simple as “I wrecked my car.”
• Regret or Apologies. Don’t apologize, even if you do feel sorry, because doing so can lower your settlement. 

• Pictures or Videos of the Crash Scene. Videos and photos are excellent evidence for your attorney’s use, but avoid sharing these publicly so they cannot be skewed. 

• Evidence That May Minimize Your Injuries. Avoid posting you doing any activities that can imply your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim. Ideally, don’t post anything on social media until the claim has been settled. 

• Emotional Rants. Before you vent on social media, remember that anything you say about your accident can be used against you. 

Contact an Auto Accident Lawyer for Support

Knowing how to navigate social media after an accident is impartial to your case’s success. Avoid posting potentially damaging information or statements that can compromise your access to compensation, and instead, talk to an attorney at Brassfield & Krueger, LTD. We offer legal support to help you seek the settlement you deserve after an auto accident. Call today for a consultation.