With the number of social media platforms increasing, more and more people are finding ways to stay connected to one another. There are, however, some downfalls to oversharing on social media. This especially rings true after you have been in an accident. an accident lawyer at Silverthorne Attorneys always advise our clients to not post anything about their accident while their case is still open. There are many reasons for this that we will go over. It is best to keep it off of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. Insurance adjusters have a knack of finding out and trying to use it against you. If you are in need of an auto accident attorney, contact us. Consultations are free!
Accident Lawyer | Avoiding Social Media
Maintaining ones privacy is incredibly important. However, with the rise of social media usage, privacy is almost non-existent. This privacy must be guarded even more so after you are in an accident. Talking with close friends and family members about the accident is perfectly fine. However, posting about your accident on platforms such as Facebook or Instagram can come at a price. Here are a few reasons why:
Not Everything is Private
One of the things to note is, even if your profiles are generally pretty private, Facebook and Instagram posts have a very long shelf life. for instance, I can google myself and find an old Facebook post from years ago that has since been deleted. and believe it or not, insurance adjusters will do extensive research on you and your social media. the insurance companies will look for any and all evidence (whether big or small) in order to shift the blame and limit what you receive for your settlement. That is why it is important to limit your social media usage.
It Will Hurt Your Case
Working for an auto accident attorney, I have never seen the benefit of posting to social media after an accident. I have only seen it hurt. Something as simple as posting a picture of yourself or the car that gets comments from friends such as, “are you okay?” and you responding with “I’m fine” can be twisted by the insurance companies. This is because they think, “well, if they are posting they are fine, they must be fine.” We have seen this time and time again. When someone has posted to Facebook or Instagram and insurance adjusters find their pages, they use this to either lowball the settlement offer or even deny a claim all together.
In fact, if you post too much, even if it is not entirely about your accident, insurance companies will claim that you did not suffer emotionally. Car accidents are upsetting, to say the least. the last thing you want is to deal with an insurance adjuster who is insensitive to what you are going through.
Posting About the Case May Negate Confidentiality
When you post information about your accident, especially in a social media post, it becomes public knowledge. Any confidentiality agreements you may have (like the one with your auto accident attorney) will no longer apply. Car accidents often will involve sensitive medical and financial information and it is best to keep updates on the case between you and your attorney. Sharing your struggles with close family and friends and other medical professionals is perfectly fine. Make sure they are also not posting sensitive information about your accident on social media. Insurance adjusters will be checking on all aspects of your life. and checking your friends and family and co-workers are a part of that.
Refrain From Posting About Insurance Companies
You will learn, in the process of working with your accident lawyer that adjusters are not on your side. Even the ones that are working for your insurance company. They are there to save their company money on your accident. It is best to not vent about insurance adjusters on Facebook while your claim had yet to be resolved. This is because venting can be read as a sign of bad faith. Even if you do not trust the insurance company, never outright say it. Leave a lot of the dealing with of the insurance adjusters to your auto accident attorney in our office. We have many years of experience dealing with insurance adjusters. Our lawyers know just how difficult they can be and the tactics that they will use.
One last thing, even if your settings on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, etc. are set to private, it is best not to take the chance. Anything you post to these sites has the potential of becoming public – with or without your consent. Which means they can be seen by the adjusters or other people in a position to use the information to deny your claim.
Auto Accident Attorney | Never Settle
When you are suffering from serious injuries due to the negligent actions of another, we know that it may seem easier to just settle the case and move on with your life. However, our accident lawyers disagree with this method. If you have serious injuries, you need to be compensated for them. Contacting someone in our office to get the ball rolling on your case is just the first step. Everything else after that, we will handle for you. We will get you in contact with the best medical professionals near your home and we will do everything in our power to make sure you get the settlement you deserve.
Just remember, try to stay away from social media during this time. Though it may be incredibly difficult to do so, it will benefit you and your claim a great deal.
If you have been injured and need to speak with an accident lawyer, contact our office today. Consultations are free!
