Setareh Law
January 24, 2023
In the digital era, the new normal is posting and sharing our experiences, thoughts, and feelings on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and others. While social media is a place to connect with old friends and make new ones, unfortunately, it can also be a minefield when you overshare your personal information. If you’ve been involved in an accident and are considering taking legal action, a simple social media post can greatly impact your chances of a successful insurance claim.
You need to know that insurance adjusters and defense lawyers will regularly check your social media accounts after the accident to find anything they can use to hurt your claim. Therefore, you must avoid posting anything related to the accident. Instead, speak to our personal injury attorneys at Setareh Law to take up your case and get you the compensation you deserve.
How Can a Social Media Post Hurt Your Personal Injury Claim?
If you or your family and friends post a picture or video after an accident to put your online friends at ease, this seemingly innocent post may impact your claim more than you think. That post can be easily misconstrued and taken out of context by other legal parties or insurance companies. The defense attorney or insurance claim adjusters could even accuse you of committing insurance fraud as a tactic to reduce your compensation. At the end of the day, their focus is on protecting their financial assets.
It doesn’t matter what is true in your post – it only matters what a jury thinks to be true. Once the defense pokes holes into your story, your claim could be worth less than you deserve, which is why you should refrain from posting anything following an accident.
How Can You Protect Yourself on Social Media?
Making sure you protect yourself on social media is imperative following an accident. A few ways to do this include:
- Do not delete any post even if the posts aren’t related to the accident, as the defense can argue that you deleted possible evidence
- If you don’t trust yourself to refrain from making any posts or commenting on social media, consider temporarily deactivating your accounts until the case is over
- Ask your family and friends to refrain from posting you or mentioning you on their posts during the claim period
- Consider setting your posts to private to stop the general public from looking at your account. That way, only your close circle can access it
- If you receive requests from people you don’t recognize, don’t accept them. It could be a way for the defense team to access your posts
- Do not send texts, e-mails, or record yourself giving information regarding your case
If the defense team believes they could get evidence to discredit your claim, they may ask the court for permission to access your social media accounts. An experienced personal injury attorney may be able to argue against it. Still, it helps if you limit your social media presence during the claim period.
Get the Help of a Personal Injury Attorney at Setareh Law
Were you involved in an accident caused by someone else’s negligent or deliberate actions? You don’t have to go through it alone. Our Spanish-speaking personal injury attorneys at Setareh Law are well-versed in the ins and outs of the claim process. We understand how overwhelming the whole process can be, and therefore take great pride in being there for you in your time of need. If you have any questions about your social media presence as well, we are here to make sure you protect yourself online.
Call us at (310) 659-1826 to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys. You can also get help from an experienced personal injury attorney by filling out our contact form.
