After a car accident or injury, you might want to vent or update friends and family about your recovery on social media. This impulse is natural, but it can seriously damage your personal injury claim. Insurance companies actively monitor social media to find reasons to deny or reduce your compensation.
Your privacy settings won’t protect you
Many people believe their privacy settings keep their posts safe from prying eyes. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys have multiple ways to access your content. Your friends’ accounts might not have strict privacy settings, allowing screenshots of your posts to circulate. During litigation, attorneys can also request access to your social media accounts through legal discovery.
Innocent posts can hurt your case
Even seemingly harmless updates can be twisted to undermine your claim.
For example, a photo of you smiling at a family gathering might seem innocent, but insurers can use it to argue you’re not experiencing pain or emotional distress. Video of you playing with your kids in the backyard could contradict claims of limited mobility, even if you were in pain the entire time. Check-ins at restaurants, stores or events can suggest you’re more active than your injury allows, regardless of how difficult the outing actually was.
The insurance company doesn’t need the full context of your posts. They only need enough to create doubt about the nature and severity of your injuries.
What you like and share matters too
It’s not just your own posts that create problems. Friends can tag you in photos without your knowledge, showing you at events or activities. Even if you quickly untag yourself, the insurance company may have already captured screenshots.
Comments you make on others’ posts can also backfire. If you comment “Can’t wait to get back to the gym!” on a friend’s workout post, that can contradict claims of permanent physical limitations. Friends might also post about activities you attended together, providing the insurance company with evidence about your capabilities and social life.
Stay smart on social media
You don’t need to delete all your accounts or go completely silent online after a serious Kentucky car crash. However, understanding that others will analyze everything you post, like or share is essential. The safest approach during an active claim is to limit your social media activity and avoid posting anything about your accident, injuries, activities or recovery. When in doubt, ask your attorney before posting.