Car accidents can be frightening experiences, and if someone else is to blame for your accident and injuries, you should seek the compensation to which you are entitled to cover your medical bills and other losses. Being injured in a car accident can leave you feeling at a loss regarding how best to proceed, and many of us have gotten in the habit of turning to Facebook and other social media platforms to voice our concerns and to share our stories, but after a car accident is not the appropriate time. If you’ve been injured and believe you have a possible accident claim, call an experienced Cumming car accident attorney at Banks, Stubbs & McFarland, LLP, right away.

The Insurance Company is Watching

If you’ve been injured in a car accident, you can rest assured that the insurance company involved will be carefully looking at your social media posts. Insurance companies are in the business of turning large profits, and they are well-versed in using claimants’ posted words and pictures against their own claims. Even if you think your post is harmless, refrain from posting after being injured in a car accident. Doing so might put your claim in jeopardy or limit your settlement, and it’s in your best interest to err on the side of prudence when it comes to your social media accounts. 

Insurance companies are especially savvy at using the words of injured claimants to discredit their claims, and social media provides these companies with a lot of information. For example:

• A Picture Says a Thousand Words – If you post a picture to help assure your loved ones, family, and friends that you are doing fine after an accident – in an effort to assuage their concern – the insurance company may use that post as evidence that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim. Further, a picture of you out dancing when you claim to have a serious hip injury could kill your claim altogether. Err on the side of caution and don’t post any pictures post-accident.

• Your Story Can Be Interpreted in a Variety of Ways – If you choose to share the narrative of your accident on social media, you are making a statement that can be difficult to retract (even if you’re adjusting your story for the sake of your social media audience). You are well-advised not to give a formal statement to the insurance company after an accident and providing one on social media can have similar negative effects on your case. 

No matter how private your settings might be, there is no true privacy on social media, and this makes it wise to avoid discussing your accident – or perhaps anything – on these sites until your claim is resolved. 

Instead of turning to social media after being injured in a car accident, turn to the dedicated Forsyth County personal injury attorneys at Banks, Stubbs & McFarland, LLP. We’re here for you, so please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (770) 887-1209 for more information today.

Paul Petersen