Hurt in a Car Accident? 4 Social Media Tips to Keep in Mind

If you were recently hurt in a car accident and you intend to take action against those who were liable, it’s wise to stay off social media. While it’s probably tempting to turn to your friends and followers online for support and encouragement, doing so could jeopardize your chance of building a strong personal injury case.

Insurance adjusters will often monitor online activity in an attempt to find cause to challenge the claims they review. Since there’s no way to be sure how they’ll interpret what you post, it’s best to avoid publishing anything at all until your case has been resolved.

If deactivating your social profiles temporarily isn’t an option, you can protect your claim by following these tips:

1. Set Your Profiles to “Private”

Review the settings on each profile, and toggle the privacy option so only approved friends and followers can see what you post. While the insurance adjuster may still be able to view some posts through third-party connections, this will provide an added layer of protection.

2. Filter All New Requests

Once your profiles are no longer public, you’ll have to approve all new friends and followers manually. When doing so, make sure not to approve any requests from people whom you don’t actually recognize. If they work for the insurance adjuster, they may simply be trying to gain access to your posts so they can use them to challenge your credibility.

3. Scrutinize Everything You Intend to Share

Before publishing a status, photo, or video, scrutinize it closely. Is there any way it could be used against you during the claims process? If so, you should avoid posting it altogether.

You should make a concerted effort to avoid posting anything about:

• The accident in which you were hurt;
• The direction in which you intend to take your case;
• The injuries you sustained;
• The progress of your recovery;
• Your expenditures; or
• Your social life.

4. Avoid “Checking In”

“Checking in” to public places will essentially leave a trail for the insurance adjuster to follow. Even seemingly innocuous check-ins, like those at parks and restaurants, could lead the opposing party to challenge your claim. Therefore, it’s wise to stop checking in as long as your case is pending.

In that same vein, ask your family and friends not to tag you in their posts. Remind them of your claim, and request that they not post any photos or videos of you that they happen to take.

Speak with a Long Island Car Accident Lawyer

If you were seriously injured in a vehicular accident through the fault of someone else, contact PascaleLaw to determine how best to proceed. Our law firm has earned a 10.0 rating from Avvo and an AV-Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

By letting us handle the logistics of your claim, you can focus on making a full recovery and taking care of your loved ones. Call 516-280-4716 or use our Online Contact Form to set up a free consultation with a car accident attorney in Long Island.