How Social Media Can Affect Your Car Accident Claim

 Posted on November 22, 2016 in Personal Injury

When a major life event occurs, people often post their news to social media accounts like Facebook to update friends and family. However, when a car accident happens, you may want to think twice before sharing.

Posting about your car accident on the Internet is not always a good idea, as social media can affect your car accident claim. Therefore, it is best to first contact a DuPage County car accident attorney to determine what steps you should do when you are in an auto accident. Consider the following issues:

1. Insurance companies can use posts about an accident, like “We are all fine,” when determining how much compensation you can receive. Even though such comments could have been made before knowing the extent of your injuries, it is possible to take such comments out of context.

2. Insurance companies can use past posts to social media regarding your phone use habits in your car to attempt to prove that you are an inattentive behind the wheel.

3. Any physical activity that you document on social media may later be used as evidence of your recovery. For example, if you report that you have sustained soft tissue damage in your back, then photos of you inner tubing or going to an amusement park could undermine such a diagnosis.

4. If you have been seriously injured, part of your future lawsuit may include money damages due to “loss of enjoyment of life.” Posting any information about your activity or emotions after an accident, even something like a picture of you smiling, could affect this part of your lawsuit.

5. You may wish to review old posts that include the vehicle that was involved in the car accident. Such posts could be reviewed by anyone to determine the state of your car at the time of the accident.

The most important factor to remember that anything you post on the Internet could become public. Therefore, after an accident, it is best keep the details of your accident and your recovery private. Changing your profile to private can help to minimize these issues. Yet, for example, keep in mind that just because you are seen enjoying a vacation does not mean that you did not suffer an injury during a car wreck. However, to insurance adjustors or juries, such pictures could create the impression that the car accident is not as serious than it actually was.

Contact an Experienced DuPage County Car Accident Attorney Today

If you have been in a car accident and are unsure of the next steps to take, contact the DuPage County personal injury lawyers at Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices to discuss you case and you options. For a free consultation, call 630-932-9100 today.

Source:

http://www.americanbar.org/publications/blt/2014/01/02_dibianca.html