How Can Social Media Posts Affect My Car Accident Case?

May 16, 2022

How Can Social Media Posts Affect My Car Accident Case?

Many of us spend lots of time in the day posting on social media. Too often will people post something on social media without thinking about the consequences. Most importantly, social media posts are usually viewable by anyone and everyone. For that reason, you should remember to keep anything about your car accident or claim for compensation confidential and off social media. 

Why You Should Avoid Posting about Your Car Accident on Social Media

If you decide to write social media posts about a car accident you were involved in or about your subsequent legal claim to recover compensation, you may end up inadvertently revealing sensitive financial or medical information about yourself. In addition, any social media posts you make about the accident itself might later be used by the insurance company or a defense attorney as an admission of your fault for the accident.

When you claim to have suffered debilitating injuries in a car accident, social media posts can also be used to discount your claims. For example, if you say you cannot work because of car accident injuries but then post photos or videos of yourself playing sports, those posts can be used to undercut the credibility of your injury claim. 

Protecting Yourself on Social Media After a Car Accident

Insurance companies and lawyers have the right to access a car accident victim’s public social media accounts and to copy posts that might be construed to contradict the victim’s official claims. The best way to protect your social media posts from being used against you in your car accident claim is to simply avoid social media altogether. However, staying off social media completely may not be practical for some people, who use social media to stay in touch with friends and family in other cities, states, or countries.

If you do plan to continue using social media while pursuing a car accident claim, you should check your account’s privacy settings to ensure that only your approved friends or followers can view your posts. You should remove any followers whom you do not know, and should not accept any new friend or follower requests from an account you do not recognize. Insurance companies may direct their employees to connect with you on social media for the purpose of being able to view your posts when you have hidden them from public view.

If you have already made posts about the car accident or your claim on social media, you should remember to take them down as soon as possible. Furthermore, you should ask your friends and family to refrain from posting about the accident or your claim as well. If someone you know posts about your accident or claim, the insurance company might assume that they have information about your case. Finally, you should also ask your friends to not tag you on any photos or videos that have you in them; be sure to untag yourself in case you are inadvertently tagged. If your friend or family member posts a photo or video of you vacationing or engaging in activities when you’ve claimed to be injured, that post may be publicly visible. 

Contact a Pittsburgh Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car Accident Case in Pennsylvania

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident in Pennsylvania? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. represent clients injured because of car accidents in Pittsburgh and the surrounding Western PA counties. Call 412-837-8426 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 3634 California Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15212. Home visits can be arranged in certain situations. 

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.

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