Posting on Social Media About Your Car Accident
If you’re like most people, you have several personal social media profiles. In fact, it can be difficult to operate in society without being on social media. You may use it to keep up with recent news, what’s happening with friends and family, or just to post funny pictures. In some cases, a potential employer may even look at your social media to get an idea of who you are.
While social media has its benefits, it has caused many people to overshare with people who, in some cases, are practically strangers. We crave those likes and comments on our posts (so much, in fact, that social media has many of the same effects as addiction).
For regular social media users, it’s common knowledge that the best-performing posts are those that are about something amazing happening — or something tragic. This includes car wrecks. You may be tempted to share all the details of your collision on social media, but before you do, consider what our Atlanta car accident attorneys have to say on the matter.
At Rafi Law Firm, we’ve seen too many car accident cases get derailed by what a client posts on social media. So before you tell your whole story to Facebook, consider these tips:
Speak to an Atlanta Car Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve been injured in a car wreck, the best thing to do is simply avoid posting anything at all online about it until your case is over. Even if you don’t think you’re going to file a lawsuit, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Until you’ve been told you don’t have a case, don’t post about it!
An Atlanta car accident attorney at Rafi Law Firm can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call us today at 404-948-3311 for a free, no-obligation consultation to explore all of your legal options.
What to Do After a Car Crash
We know, this can feel like putting duct tape over your mouth. But even a simple post like, “Just wanted you all to know that I was in a wreck, but I’m okay!” can be used against you by the insurance company’s lawyer. After all, if you’re okay, you aren’t injured, and therefore don’t deserve compensation.
When your case is underway, don’t post information about it. No one on your social media needs to know how much compensation you’re seeking, how you’re doing, or even who your lawyer is while the case is ongoing. Anything and everything you post could possibly be used against you.
Let’s say you get in a wreck and sprain your ankle. Two weeks later, there’s a photo of you on Facebook where you’re not wearing the boot you were given by the doctor — even just for the brief moment while the photo was taken. You may have been letting your leg breathe, but to the insurance company’s attorney, that’s easy ammo to say you weren’t injured at all.
For a more complex situation, let’s say a week after your injury, there’s a photo tagged of you at the local bar. But, you’re supposed to be on medication, and it can’t be mixed with alcohol. Even if you were just drinking a soda, the other side could say you were having a drink, and therefore not following doctor’s orders.
If you do unintentionally publish a post that could be incriminating, do not delete it. Social media posts are considered evidence, and deleting them could get you in trouble and hurt your case. If you have a question about any of your social media posts, your car accident attorney can give you feedback about how they pertain to your case.
Here’s something you may not have realized: Insurance companies may hire a private investigator to follow you after your accident to see if you really are injured. One of the tactics private investigators use nowadays is to add you on Facebook and follow you on Twitter and Instagram.
Be careful about who is allowed to see your posts. If you have your profiles set to “public,” they don’t even need to add you. Set your posts to only be seen by friends, and for sites like Twitter and Instagram, always require permission to follow you.