3 Social Media Mistakes After a Car Accident

1. Posting Pictures and Tweeting

If you have been injured in a car accident, you should avoid posting photos of any kind. One of the worst things you can do after an accident is sharing a photo in which you appear to be happy and healthy. As absurd as it may seem, insurance companies and opposing legal representatives may use your photos as evidence that your injuries are not as bad as you claim. Even posting an older photo with an explicit description can be damaging. Many professionals in the justice system do not understand the timelines of social media. Since you posted the picture recently, it will be assumed that the picture was taken recently.

Many people are in the habit of tweeting after a life event. However, if you have been hurt in a car crash, you must resist the urge to post a tweet. Often times, people will tweet out that people should not worry, or that the collision did not result in injury. While this may be done to let friends and family know that you survived, a screenshot may be used as evidence in court. A lawyer might use tweets as evidence that you emerged from your accident uninjured.

2. Private Does Not Mean Invisible

It is always possible to see your Facebook posts, even if you set your profile to private. Imagine, for example, that you make a post that is only visible to a select few. If a friend or family member comments on your post or shares it, it will be posted to their news feed and become visible to their entire friend group. Despite your Facebook profile being set to private, the information you post is accessible to anyone who works to find it. Keep this in mind when you are contemplating posting comments or photos related to your car accident.

3. Facebook Posts and Ranting

Making an update to your personal blog after an accident can be tempting. Even if you are trying to be educational, it is likely that your blog posts will be found by those who are fighting against you. If you make a blog post in which you are trying to expose a judge or the injustice of the legal system, for example, it is likely that it will be seen by the legal professionals handling your case. This is a sure-fire way to harm your chances of recovering funds for your injuries.

Your friends on Facebook do not need to receive daily updates on your condition, nor do they need to receive unnecessary updates related to your accident. Detailed posts to Facebook are often used by lawyers, judges, and insurance companies to poke holes in your story. If social media does not perfectly reflect your testimony in court, it is likely that you will not receive the compensation you need.