Social media can be a great way to connect with friends and family and share updates about your life or daily activities. So naturally, if you’ve been involved in an accident, you could be tempted to post an update.
But you might want to rethink making a post on your favorite platform. Sometimes, oversharing the details of your car wreck could be used against you, especially in a civil case. If you want to know what to do on these sites, here are the do’s and don’ts of using social media after an accident.
The Do’s of Social Media
The good news is you don’t have to ignore your social media accounts, which like it is for you, is a way of life for hundreds of millions of Americans. Whether you post a video or write an update, you just need to be more cautious about what you share. Some of the “do’s” of using social media after an accident include:
Adjust Your Privacy Settings
If you are in the middle of a lawsuit, you do not want to have your social media account wide open for anyone to view. This is the time to focus on your online privacy. Take the time to readjust those settings so you know who can see your personal information and posts.
For now, you may only want to grant access to friends and family members. Remember, if someone can obtain your personal information, they can use that to negatively impact your case.
Communicate in Private
While you may want to post a long update regarding your accident, you may just want to do that in private or with a close group of family and friends. It is often better to reach out to them through email, private messages, or even text. Doing that lets you keep all the details and your information private.
Save Relevant Posts
Social media can be used for good. If you encounter any posts or videos with the other parties discussing the accident, take a screenshot or record the screen. Your legal team can use these posts as evidence in your case as long as they are obtained legally. You cannot hack someone’s account to access their posts or videos. However, you can save these posts if their profile is open.
Talk to an Attorney
If you are still in doubt about what to do, reach out to an experienced injury attorney. They can provide you with the information you need to avoid any problems with your social media platforms.
Don’ts of Social Media
Now that you know what you can do, take a look at what you need to avoid on social media if you have been involved in an accident.
Don’t Admit Fault
Even if you think you were at fault or partially responsible for the collision, you never want to admit guilt on social media. You might feel like you need to apologize or post an innocent comment about the incident; however, any admission could be used against you during this time.
Never Discuss the Crash Publicly
Also, make sure never to discuss any of the details of the accidents online. From the same standpoint, you also want to avoid sharing your opinions about the incident. Once again, these seemingly innocuous comments could be held against you in a lawsuit.
You also want to avoid discussing any legal matters as well. Any relevant information about your case should only be shared between you and your legal team. Posting on social media could give the other party or the insurance company a glimpse into your attorney’s strategy.
Don’t Post Medical Updates or Any Activities
If you have been treated for injuries after the wreck, you could be tempted to post an update about your health. But keep in mind that the insurance companies could use that information to downplay your injuries. In turn, you could lose out on compensation.
Additionally, you might want to skip those posts about your activities. For example, any picture with you engaging in physical activities could hurt your case if you’re claiming injuries. These posts could be used to challenge your case’s validity.
Be Wary of New Friend Requests
Everyone wants to meet new friends but err on the side of caution after an wreck. If you received a new friend request after the incident, it could be an investigator trying to access your information and social media posts. During this time, only accept requests from trusted friends and family members.
Social media can be a double-edged sword in crash cases. While it can provide support and keep you connected, it can also harm your case if not used wisely.
If you’ve suffered harm in a wreck due to someone else’s negligence, consider consulting with an attorney. Bianca | Matkins can help. We have spent years helping accident victims and their families get the compensation that they deserve. Give us a call today so we can get started on your case.
