Can Social Media Impact Your Car Accident Claim?
Yes, and usually not in a good way. If you were injured in a car accident, you can try and receive compensation from the at-fault party. You can do this by either filing an injury claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or a lawsuit against the driver in civil court. No matter the route you chose to go, though, you can severely damage your claim by posting on your social media accounts, like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Reason For the Harm
Consider the scenario where you were rear ended in a motor vehicle accident and suffered a lower back strain. You claim that the injury causes you moderate pain and drastically limits your mobility.
Now suppose you run a 5K and begin posting images of the event on social media. You even include video of you crossing the finish line with a smile. All of this serves as excellent evidence for an insurance company or an opposing attorney. The images and video show that you either:
- Lied about your injuries,
- Exaggerated your injuries, and/or
- Fraudulently filed an injury claim or lawsuit.
This is because there is no way you could have completed a 5k (especially with a smile) with a painful lower back strain.
If you don’t think that a claims adjuster or opposing counsel will check your social media, please think again. Insurers and attorneys will spend much energy trying to disprove your claims or discredit them. This energy often involves routinely checking your social media accounts.
Practical Tips to Protect Your Claim
We understand that it’s popular these days for people to share life updates on social media. But know that attorneys and claim adjusters can try to use a post against your best interests. For this reason, we recommend that injury victims deactivate, but never delete, their social media accounts.
Please also be careful on what you say to friends, family, and co-workers regarding the auto accident that led to your injuries. If a party suspects a fraudulent case or claim, the party may hire an investigator to look into matters. The investigator may try and ask questions of the people that closely surround you.
Contact Justice Through Compensation for Help
If you or a loved one was injured in a car or rideshare accident, please know that the Premier Injury Law Firm is here to help. Our legal team is skilled, experienced, and passionate in their representation. Let us shoulder the burden of an injury claim or lawsuit while you focus on healing from your injuries. Contact us today for the quality legal help you deserve.