Social Media Surveillance After an Accident: How Online Posts Can Undermine Your Injury Claim
If you have been injured in an accident, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention and gather evidence to pursue compensation and hold the responsible party accountable. However, it’s equally important to avoid discussing the accident or posting about it on social media, as this can significantly impact your claim.
Insurance companies often review social media accounts to find posts about the accident or posts that contradict your claim, which they can use against you. If you have been involved in an accident and suffered an injury, or if you have made an online post following an accident and want to explore your options, contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible.
At Abrahamson Law Office, based in Omaha, Nebraska, we can help you file a comprehensive injury claim after an accident and advise you about how to avoid making online posts that can impact the strength of your claim. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
How Online Posts Can Impact Your Claim
Social media is a common way to keep in touch with friends and family. It might seem like a good idea to notify your loved ones after an accident or injury, but even seemingly innocent posts can be taken out of context or used by insurance companies to discredit your claim, minimize your recoverable compensation, and contradict the statements you made about your injury.
The primary ways online posts can affect the strength and credibility of your personal injury claim in Nebraska include the following:
Contradict your injury: Sharing photos or videos that show you walking, running, exercising, or traveling can contradict your claim that you suffered an injury that resulted in severe pain or limited mobility. Even if these photos or videos were taken before the accident, sharing them after the accident and while your claim is being processed can give insurance companies unnecessary leverage while negotiating compensation.
Damage your credibility: Any statements, remarks, comments, or emojis that you share about the accident, whether accusatory or innocent, can be used against you or taken out of context by insurance companies to argue that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
Unintentionally admit fault: Posts that joke about or apologize for the accident and posts that state whether you were distracted or engaged in unsafe driving practices, can be used by insurance companies to shift fault and liability onto you, which could undercut your ability to pursue compensation.
Unintentionally reveal your location: Social media posts often provide location tags or “check-ins”. Insurance companies can use these tags to challenge claims that you were bedridden or under home restrictions. Posts made by your friends could also provide unintentional tags that insurance companies could use against you.
Following an accident, avoiding social media and online posts is the best rule of thumb. Insurance practices are designed to minimize payouts and protect their shareholders, and posts that appear innocent could still be used against you to challenge the strength and credibility of your claim. If you have been injured in an accident, contact our Nebraska personal injury attorneys for guidance.
Steps to Protect Your Claim After an Accident
Avoiding online posts after an accident is critical to maintaining the strength of the evidence provided in your claim. Once you have filed a claim, your attorney can help you take the following steps to protect your claim from unnecessary fallout:
Stay offline: Avoid posting anything on social media while your case is under review. This is the best way to prevent providing insurance companies with evidence to use against your case.
Adjust your online settings: Go into your social media account settings and turn off location and activity sharing. Additionally, turn on settings for you to approve tags before a third-party post is shared. This can help prevent unintentional posts from being shared.
Warn your friends and family: Ask your friends and family to avoid posting anything about the accident, as well as any photos (old or current) or details about your condition. Third-party posts could unintentionally provide check-ins or tags that insurance companies could use to challenge your claim.
Do not delete posts: Do not delete any photos or statements you have already posted. In some cases, deleting a post could look suspicious to both the court and the insurance company reviewing your claim. If you think you should delete a post, consult your attorney first to determine whether this is the right step.
Taking these steps is essential to protect your claim while you are online. Remember, the best rule of thumb is to avoid making any posts while you are recovering and while your claim is being reviewed. If you have further questions about how your online presence could impact your claim, contact our experienced personal injury attorneys at Abrahamson Law Office.
Contact Our Experienced Personal Injury Attorneys in Omaha, Nebraska
Being injured in an accident is stressful, and it’s natural to want to provide updates to your friends and family about your condition and the status of your recovery. However, sharing public posts online can significantly impact the strength of your case, as insurance companies will often monitor your social accounts to find evidence they could use to challenge your claim or dispute liability.
If you have been injured in an accident, our attorneys, Hugh I. Abrahamson, Jill M. Abrahamson, and Robert E. Larsen, at Abrahamson Law Office can help you take the necessary steps to minimize the impact of online posts on your injury claim. Located in Omaha, Nebraska, we serve clients in the surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.