Most of us utilize social media regularly. It’s how we keep up with old friends, family members who live far away, and for entertainment purposes. Unfortunately, the same social media that allows us to share our happiest moments and most flattering photos is also the same social media that can make it more challenging to get compensation from a lawsuit after a car accident. If you’ve been in a car accident and plan on filing a claim, you should know how social media can hurt your claim and leave you with nothing.
Your Photos
It may be fun to post happy photos on family vacations or at the gym enjoying your workout routine, but those are the same photos that can cause your car accident claim to backfire. If you are injured in a car accident but still posting selfies at the gym, it can be used as evidence that your injury is not valid. Investigators and attorneys for the person who caused your accident will make every effort to claim you are lying about your injuries, even if you’re not. Even if you’re just at the gym because you’re keeping your partner company while they work out, photos of you there may damage your injury case.
Location, Location, Location
It’s not just important in real estate. Let’s say you are injured in a car accident, and you decide to file a claim. You might not do anything wrong, but if someone tags you at a location where you shouldn’t be if you were seriously injured, it can look bad. For example, if you have a back injury that you’re suffering from and a friend tags you at the roller-skating rink, it could damage your case. It doesn’t matter if you’re sitting there in a wheelchair watching your kids skate for fun. It looks bad, and it can be used against you.
Watch What You Say
You were involved in an accident caused by someone else. You file a claim, but then you get a phone call stating your claim is denied because someone found a status update you posted just before the accident. It may have been an innocent photo that you took while your vehicle was stationary, parked, or you weren’t even in the vehicle. However, because you posted it in the minutes before your accident, it might look like you were driving while distracted. It could then be construed that you are partly responsible for the accident. In addition, if you post about being upset about something that happened right before the accident, it might look like you were emotional and not able to drive well. Any of these scenarios can be used against you.
Every single thing you say, post, are tagged in when it comes to social media has the potential to ruin your case when you file a personal injury lawsuit or accident claim. If you are involved in an accident, the safest thing to do is delete your social media pages. To further safeguard your rights, contact a car accident lawyer relies on to discuss your case and receive guidance on moving forward with your claim or lawsuit.