For many people, daily use of social media has become routine. But for anyone who is seriously injured in a car accident, attorneys in Utah suggest thinking twice before posting anything on Facebook, Twitter, Reddit or any other social platform.
The reason for this is simple – social media activity can have a negative impact on any Utah car accident case. Insurance providers look at everything injured victims share online, and they’re not above using an out-of-context photo or post to cast doubt on a personal injury claim and keep compensation to a minimum.
Here at William R. Rawlings & Associates, our car accident attorneys have seen too many cases get derailed by social media use. To prevent that from happening to you, consider the dos and don’ts of posting online after car crash.
You’ll need to be careful about how you approach social media until your personal injury claim reaches a resolution. Steering clear of social platforms would be ideal, but since more than a year may pass before a case settles, that may not be feasible. To that end, experienced car accident attorneys in Utah recommend doing the following:
DO change the privacy settings for your social media profiles.
Lock down all of your accounts, making sure that the general public doesn’t have access to your information. While setting your profiles to private doesn’t mean everything you put online is completely private, your posts will be more secure.
DO ask others to refrain from posting anything about you or the car wreck.
Your loved ones may be tempted to lament over your injuries or vent about the auto accident online to their own friends. Ask them not to mention your ordeal, explaining that insurance adjusters may use what they say as evidence against your claim.
DO request that others avoid tagging you in any online post or story.
Being tagged in a photo or post about an activity – like riding a bike or even going to the store – could be used against you, as adjusters may imply that you’re actually engaged in the activity. Ask everyone you know to keep from tagging you until the case ends.
DO watch the comments you make on social media posts.
On Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social platforms, people can see the comments others make on their friend’s posts and on public posts. It’s best to avoid commenting anything that relates to the car accident, your injuries or how you feel.
As we mentioned, anything you post online after a car crash can come back to bite you. Insurance providers will be scanning your social media accounts, and they’ll use whatever they can find to devalue or deny your personal injury claim. For that reason, Utah car accident attorneys say to keep the following don’ts in mind:
DON’T post any photos of yourself or your injuries.
Insurance adjusters will use any picture of you looking happy to argue that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim. Even photos that document your recovery could be used to diminish your credibility. As such, you’d be wise to hold off on posting pics for now.
DON’T share any information about the car crash or your personal injury claim.
After an auto accident, you may be eager to share your side of the story or provide updates on how your personal injury claim is progressing. Keep from doing so, as every time you put any information online you run the risk of having it used against you.
DON’T express how you’re feeling or talk about getting better.
While you may want to reassure loved ones that you’re on the mend and doing well in light of the circumstances, doing so isn’t a good idea. These sorts of statements could put your injury claim in jeopardy, leading to less compensation than you deserve.
DON’T accept any new online friends or followers.
One tactic insurance adjusters use is to follow injured victims on social media or add them as friends, as that allows for easy access to information. Knowing this, you may want to postpone accepting friend or follower requests until your injury claim is resolved.
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident and plan to file a personal injury claim, following the advice above is to your benefit – and so is talking to an experienced Utah car accident attorney. A legal professional can provide you with advice on how to proceed and, if you like, take over your case to ensure the best possible outcome.
In Utah, the car accident attorneys to trust are here at William R. Rawlings & Associates. Our law firm has been protecting the rights of injured car crash victims for over 35 years, and we’ll fight to get you every dollar you deserve.
For a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your personal injury claim with a seasoned car accident attorney in Utah, contact William R. Rawlings & Associates today.