Many years ago people unleashed their emotions in their diaries and to their closest friends and family members. Today people go on social media and share their day to day grievances with the world. Venting frustrations to the public can be gratifying, but there are still some things that should be kept private.
If you are involved in a court case or legal dispute such as a car accident, it is a very good idea not to mention it on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Social Media Post Can Hurt Your Case
Getting into a car accident is painful, time-consuming, and costly. Dealing with insurance companies and lawyers can be downright intimidating. It helps to know the dos and don’ts of handling an insurance claim.
Insurance companies will use any excuse not to pay you. They have entire departments devoted to keeping their money in-house. You do not want to give an insurance company any ammunition when it comes to diminishing your case. Although some posts may be made in innocents, you may actually be providing an insurance company with evidence that can be used against you.
How Social Media Posts Can be Used as Evidence
Even if your social media pages are set to private, they are still technically public information. If you post pictures of your accident, a judge may say that you have biased the case. If you mention the other driver’s name, it may be considered defamation of character.
If you post pictures of yourself on vacation or if you even just state that you are going on a trip, an insurance company may try to use it to contradict your claim. For example, if you say your injury has caused you great pain in your legs and you post a picture of yourself swimming or participating in a sport, it may hurt your case.
An insurance company can demand access to any public social media account if they feel that it contains information that is pertinent to your case.
Information That Can Hurt Your Case
If you posted a selfie on Instagram a second before your accident, it may be used as evidence that you were engaging in distracted driving. If you Tweet that you went to a party on a day that you took off of work to go to a medical appointment, it may make you look dishonest.
Finding an Attorney
If you need help negotiating with an insurance company or if you are thinking of suing someone for personal injury, you should hire a personal injury attorney. They will have years of experience in dealing with insurance adjusters and they can get you the money you deserve.
They can let you know what kinds of social media posts have adversely affected people’s legal cases in the past. One thing an attorney can never do is to tell you to take stories, pictures or comments that you have already posted down. This may be considered the destruction of evidence and an officer of the court can get into big trouble for that.
It is always best to discuss your case in private with your attorney. Car accidents happen every day and the settlement of the insurance claims or lawsuits that they result in can be a personal triumph. You can tell your family and friends about your case, but keeping it off of the news feeds is better for you and everyone involved in the accident.
