It’s natural to reach out to friends and family after a severe injury. You want to let them know what happened and that you’re OK. However, it’s also crucial to watch what you say to friends and family after an accident, particularly on social media. Insurance companies can easily find your posts and use them against you, even if it seems like there’s nothing they could gain. Here are a few days social media can negatively affect a personal injury case in Shrewsbury, NJ.
Shifting Blame onto Yourself
A critical element of a personal injury case in Shrewsbury is to show how someone else—another driver, a negligent property owner, a dog owner, etc.—caused your injuries. If you’re not careful about what you say on social media, you could accidentally say something that hurts your case. Even a simple “I’m sorry,” or words to that effect, could be twisted into an admission that you played a role in the accident, which an insurance adjuster could use as an excuse to reduce your compensation or deny your claim outright.
Providing Inconsistent Accounts of the Crash
Consistency is key in personal injury cases because any changes in your story suggest you’re either actively hiding something or unsure of your position. Either way, it’s bad news for your case because insurers have no reservations about using your posts to weaken your claim. So, if you say one thing in a statement to an insurance company but something else online, you’re in trouble.
Making Your Injuries Seem Less Severe
To recover maximum compensation in a personal injury claim, you must show how your injuries have affected your daily life and limit your future activities. Medical records, testimony from doctors or other specialists, and your own words can help you make a persuasive case. On the other hand, a careless social media post can undermine your claim and cost you money. For example, a photo of you outside your home hanging out with friends or family could undercut your arguments that your injuries severely limit your physical activities or ability to travel.
Tips for Using Social Media During Your Personal Injury Case
The less you use social media while your case is pending, the better. If you do use social media, keep these best practices in mind:
No photos – They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, and that’s absolutely true of any photos you post online. Photos are easy to take out of context, so don’t post any pictures until your case concludes.
No location tagging – Location tags can let insurers track your movements, which could hurt your claim that your injuries keep you homebound. Accordingly, don’t tag your location in any posts or let anyone else tag you.
Don’t comment on your case or your injuries – Don’t say anything remotely related to your injuries or your legal case, no matter how innocent it seems. You don’t want to risk giving the insurance companies anything to use against you.
Watch what others say about you – Warn your friends and family to watch what they say about you. Tell them not to discuss your injuries, activities, or legal case.
Watch your comments – In general, you’re better off not posting anything on social media and limiting your interactions to comments. That said, insurance companies can still find and read your comments, so avoid saying anything about your case.
Contact a Shrewsbury, NJ, Injury Lawyer Now
The Cassidy Law Firm has decades of legal experience and can handle all the legal work in your case. We’re happy to advise you on what you can share on social media as part of managing your claim. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.