In this day and age, people post pictures of their lunch on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. For this reason, if you were involved in an accident, pictures of its aftermath, your injuries, or a narrative of how it occurred, may seem unquestionably worthy of a post or two.
While social media posts may seem like harmless fun and a way to keep your friends and family aware of daily aspects of your life, others can use them as evidence against you. In the aftermath of a car accident, insurance companies will search for any opportunity they can find to reduce the amount they pay out—or to deny a claim altogether. Here are some ways that social media posts could hurt a car accident claim:
Inadvertently admitting negligence – If you post about the way your accident occurred, you may accidentally admit that you were partially or even completely at fault. For example, if you posted something indicating that you were texting or looking at your phone and did not see the other car coming, you could seriously hurt your case.
Providing evidence that calls the severity of your injuries into question – Most people who are active on social media like to portray the best aspects of their lives. If you claim to be seriously injured but post pictures of yourself out with friends, exercising, shopping, or generally having a good time, you could provide evidence that you are not as hurt as you claim.
Retaining an Attorney: The Best Way to Protect Your Rights
Trolling your social media posts is only one way an insurance company could try to minimize or even deny your claim. The insurance company may try to pressure you into giving a written or recorded statement regarding the accident or to take a far smaller settlement offer than the amount your case could potentially fetch at trial. For this reason, if you were in a car accident, contact an attorney as soon as you can. A lawyer will handle all communications with the insurance company for you, protecting your rights and working to resolve your case as favorably as possible.
Hurt in a Wreck? Call Polito & Harrington to Speak with a Waterford Car Accident Lawyer Today
Car accidents can entitle victims to significant compensation for their losses, including their medical expenses, lost income, lost quality of life, pain and suffering, and property damage.
What victims can say and do, however, may decrease how much compensation they ultimately recover. An attorney can help protect your rights after a car crash and make sure that you get the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free case evaluation with one of our lawyers, call Polito & Harrington today at (860) 447-3300 or send us an email through our online contact form.