Avoid Social Media After A Car Accident
It’s tempting to jump on your Facebook page and let your friends know that you’re recovering after a car accident. But insurance adjusters are also looking for any reason to deny or limit your claim.
That is why it is best to avoid social media entirely after an accident. Here are a few mistakes to avoid:
- Don’t post any pictures of you participating in a physical activity—hiking, playing a sport, etc. An insurance company will use this as evidence that you were not hurt in the accident, and could deny your claim altogether.
- Don’t describe any details of the accident. If anything you write online even slightly contradicts your initial claim, your case could be damaged.
- Do not post anything that could be taken as an admission of guilt. For example, do not post that you feel sorry for the collision, even if it was not your fault.
- No angry posts! Expressing negative sentiments about the other driver could set you up to look like the bad guy. And resentful posts about the insurance company may be viewed as evidence that you are not negotiating in good faith.
- Avoid “checking in” at locations. Dinner at a restaurant is fine, but let’s say that you decide to hang out with your friends at a bowling alley. Even if you are not participating in the physical activity, it’s tough to prove that later on; an insurance adjuster may use this to limit your claim.
- Don’t accept new friend requests from anyone you do not know. It could be someone from the insurance company looking for posts concerning the accident.
The moral of the story: Just don’t post online after an accident. If you need to communicate with loved ones, pick up the phone. It’s not worth risking your claim by sharing details on social media. And if you ARE involved in a car accident, give us a call at 614-944-5055. The attorneys at the Flickinger Legal Group have several decades of experience handling car, truck and motorcycle accident claims. The initial consultation is free.