How Social Media Can Sabotage Your Accident Claim

Most people frequently use multiple social media platforms to share their views, thoughts, and photos from their personal lives.

Most people frequently use multiple social media platforms to share their views, thoughts, and photos from their personal lives.

What might appear to be an innocent social media post, on the one hand, can have a significant negative impact on a current or future accident claim, on the other hand.

As much as you might want to post on social networks, the reality is that your comments, posts, photos, and tagged content can generate a slew of issues for an accident claim or lawsuit, jeopardizing your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve.

Consider what you’re about to share on social media before doing so. You never know when you might have to make a claim, so it’s best to be prepared ahead of time.

Swartz & Swartz P.C., as a trusted and well established law firm located in Boston, MA, wants to inform you about how social media can impact your accident claim.

Finding Fault Within Comments

People say all kinds of things in the aftermath of an accident. You might feel it’s natural to apologize, even if you’re not to blame. Sadly, these words could harm your case, particularly if an insurance company has access to your comments through social networks and decides to use them against you.

It’s best to anticipate that the attorneys employed by the other driver’s insurance company will dive into anything and everything you’ve stated online about the accident. It’s their job to find any shred of evidence to use against you in favor of their client.

Even seemingly harmless comments could give the other party a narrative that makes it easier for them in their effort to prove that you contributed to the accident.

Being Active Online

Let’s say you took advice from Swartz & Swartz and didn’t post any comments about your car accident. You may feel like you’d be in the clear. But did you know that the opposing party could use your overall activity against you?

For example, if you were injured in an accident, an insurance company’s attorneys could find that you’re online a lot and commenting on your friends’ posts. They could use this to contradict your story.

In summary, you should be prepared to be less active online to avoid giving the other side any other tools to work with.

Social Media Tips After an Accident

It’s in your best interest to assume that all of your social networking activity is public. You’ve likely heard the part of the Miranda Warning that states: “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

You should also know that anything you post on social media can be used against you in a claim or lawsuit.

Following are some social media tips that can help you after your accident:

• Make sure all of your accounts are set to private
• Avoid making posts, especially posts about the accident
• Don’t add new friends or followers you haven’t met
• Be aware of how active you are online

You might even consider suspending or deactivating all of your accounts until your claim or lawsuit is resolved.

Our experienced attorneys are here to answer your questions and protect your legal rights. If you want to learn about your potential legal options, call our injury attorneys today at (617) 742-1900; clients from outside of the Boston, Massachusetts area may call toll-free at 1-800-545-3732. At Swartz & Swartz, P.C., attorney is ready to help you get the justice you deserve.