After a car crash, it might feel natural to share updates about the whole ordeal, your recovery and your well-being on social media. You may want your family and friends to stay informed about your condition and progress. However, it’s important to be careful with what you share online.
Your social media posts can result in unintended consequences, especially when it comes to legal matters like a car accident claim. Insurance companies and opposing legal teams can use such information to help their arguments and challenge the validity of your claim.
Your posts could be used against you
Anything you share with your online community may be used against you as evidence. For example, if you post pictures or status updates that suggest your injuries are not as severe as you’ve said, it can undermine your credibility and weaken your claim. Similarly, making comments about your role in the accident or the events leading up to the crash can be used to challenge your version of events. This can be especially consequential when it comes to determining each driver’s degree of fault, which plays a significant role in any eventual settlement.
Be mindful of what you share
It’s best to avoid discussing anything related to the car crash or your injuries on social media until your claim is resolved. Remember, your posts could be manipulated, misinterpreted or taken out of context so even seemingly innocent posts can snowball into something else that could hurt your claim. Additionally, consider adjusting your privacy settings to limit your audience for anything that you choose to share at this point in time.
Seeking legal guidance can help minimize the risks of such subtle mistakes that may seem minor at first glance but can have far-reaching consequences. Making this effort can also help safeguard your interests and increase the odds of a favorable settlement overall.