How Social Media Can Affect Your Personal Injury Claim
Using social networks to report your every move has become the norm these days. However, we should not be so lax with our privacy as it can work against us, especially when it comes to personal injury claims. Posting pictures of yourself at dinner with friends may seem innocent enough, but the reality is that there are over 1.3 billion Facebook users who can see this update if your profile is public. When you are seeking damages for serious injuries incurred after a car accident, the insurance company will be seeking ways to gather information proving that your injuries are not as serious as you are claiming them to be. This is why we will be going over some basic precautions you should be taking with your social media profiles as it relates to your personal injury claim.
Privacy Settings
It is best to have your privacy settings on the highest level possible at all times, and more so when you have filed a claim. This means that you should make your profile “private” so only people who know your name or who find you through mutual friends can look you up to send you a friend request. If you have ever received random requests from people you do not know, the best practice would be to ignore this request and if necessary, block the user. Many insurance adjusters will create fake Facebook accounts in the hopes that you will add them so that they can have access to your every update. Lastly, you can also adjust your settings so that if anyone tried to tag or mention you in a post or photo, it will have to be reviewed by you and approved or denied.
Think Before You Post
As children we were raised to think before we speak, as what we say could be hurtful to others. The same concept is associated with social media posts. Before posting that picture of you at the park with your children or a rant on how you do not agree with a certain politician’s beliefs, think it through. Insurance companies are searching to find anything they can that may decrease the amount they have to pay for the damage that was caused. If you do happen to post about family events, be as specific as possible about the activity. For example, if you are taking the children skate boarding be sure to word it as “watched the children skate boarding today”, as opposed to “taking the kids skate boarding” which could be construed as though you were taking part in the activity yourself. Also, it’s not a good idea to “check-in” to locations via social media. Even if you are not taking part in any physical activity, this could still be used against you.
Don’t Post About The Accident
The best way to avoid running into any problems with insurance companies is to abstain from using your Facebook, Twitter, etcetera. Our first instinct after having an accident is to alert our friends and family that we are okay and the easiest way to do so these days is by posting on Facebook. However, by doing so you already raise doubt that your injuries are serious. If you do choose to use your social media platforms after filing your claim, never post about the accident, your recovery or any other pertinent details.
Keeping our lives private has become very hard in this day and age, but it is of the utmost importance that you try to be as private as possible after filing a personal injury claim. If you have any questions about how social media may affect your ability to claim, contact the offices of Sacramento personal injury attorney, Robert L. Meissner, at 916.863.2900 or 916.448.2120.
