It is NOT a Good Idea to Post About Your Accident on Social Media

If you have been in an accident resulting in serious personal injury, posting about it on social media can jeopardize your rights in a claim.

Social media websites such as Facebook and Instagram have gained widespread popularity among people of all ages. Many post on a daily basis about their activities and the circumstances in their lives. While social media can be a valuable tool for keeping up with friends and family, posts can also be used against you in certain situations. If you have been involved in a car accident or any type of mishap resulting in personal injury, you may be entitled to compensation through an insurance company claim or through a lawsuit filed against the at-fault party. In these situations, information revealed on social media can jeopardize your case.

Social Media Plays a Role in Accident Investigations

According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 80% of the population posts regularly on social media. Many users share intimate, highly personal information and details about their lives or their day-to-day activities. This makes their home pages a wealth of information for anyone who cares to look.

Accident investigators are keenly aware of this. Your social media pages are one of the first places they will search in seeking information that could threaten your rights in an accident claim. This can impact you in the following situations:

When filing an insurance claim: For insurers, not paying out on claims filed by accident victims can save the company money. As for-profit business, the top priority is protecting profits. As a result, any information they can obtain that helps to deny, dispute, or downplay your claim can and will be used against you.

When filing a personal injury lawsuit: The attorney for the at-fault party is paid to defend his or her client in court. Social media posts can be used as evidence to cast doubt on your claim and may prevent the court from issuing a favorable judgement in your case.

How Social Media Posts Can Impact an Accident Claim

According to a 2018 report by Forbes, social media posts are increasingly being used as evidence in insurance claims and civil court matters. Ways information obtained through social media can be used against you include:

● To dispute the circumstances surrounding your accident;

● To dispute the severity of your injuries;

● To dispute the amount of damages you claim to suffer as a result.

The best way to protect yourself is to set your social media settings to private, which means only those you approve of will be able to see them. Even on this setting, you will need to be vigilant that sensitive information is not shared via third parties or through tagged posts.

Get the Guidance You Need From Our Brownsville, TX Car Accident Attorney

At the Law Office of Raúl Guajardo, P.L.L.C., we take the legal actions needed to protect you when filing an accident claim. To discuss your case and how we can help, call or contact our Brownsville, TX car accident attorney online today.