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Avoiding Posting on Social Media After An Accident

woman on her phone on social media

In today's 24/7 connected world, we turn to social media to inform our friends of the events of our lives, from the trivial - a photo of our dinner - or those that are more serious, like a car accident.

But posting photos and other updates of an accident, including any injuries you may have sustained, is definitely not a good idea as you will be revealing information that can be used against you in a settlement.

Be Very Cautious with Social Media after an Accident

  • Adjust your account settings so access is limited to family and friends only
  • Avoid accepting any new "friend" requests as they may be associated with the other driver's insurance company or attorney.
  • Never post any information - including photos - about the accident or your injuries.
  • Don't make any negative or angry comments about the other driver, attorneys, insurance companies, or anyone connected to your court case.
  • Avoid speculating on a potential settlement.

A word on the privacy of social media postings - even if you've restricted access to friends and family, postings can be shared and inadvertently reach the opposing insurance company or attorney. Assume that anything on social media is not private.

Here's How Your Postings and Photos Can Be Used Against You

Let's say that you are involved in an auto accident with another vehicle and you initiate a lawsuit against that driver for negligence. The other driver's insurance company and defense attorney will try to collect any available information about you, including researching your social media posts.

Here are some examples of postings that can be very damaging to your case:

  • "Unfortunately had a fender bender today but luckily just got a few dents." Your mechanic may determine that those dents actually add up to thousands of dollars in damage.
  • "Had fun last night after celebrating our win, but bad luck in a car accident afterward." This is a red flag indicating that perhaps drugs or alcohol were involved in your accident.
  • "I'm OK - just a few bumps and bruises." You are implying that your injuries were minor when in fact there may be more serious damage.

When it comes to social media, err on the side of caution. Remember, anything you post can be used against you.