Why Talking About an Accident on Social Media is a Bad Idea

Our Nashville personal injury attorney explains how talking about an accident on social media could negatively impact your rights in filing a claim.  

When accidents happen and result in personal injuries, you have the right to hold those at fault accountable in a claim. Our Nashville personal injury attorneys have extensive experience handling these cases and generally advise clients to avoid social media until their claim is successfully resolved. Find out why you should avoid talking about an accident on social media and how it could impact your rights to compensation. 

Information About Personal Injuries Revealed Through Social Media Posts

According to the Pew Research Center, social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have close to four billion users worldwide. These sites are a common way for people to keep up with current events, stay in touch with family and friends, and promote businesses.  

If you typically share personal details about your life with social media friends and followers, consider modifying your behavior if you are in an accident resulting in personal injuries. When filing a claim, information revealed through social media posts can end up being used against you. This includes: 

• Details surrounding your activities in the moments leading up to an accident;
• Your perspective on how it happened and who was to blame;
• Your actions in the aftermath;
• The severity of your injuries and the impact they have on your life. 

In addition to not posting about your accident on your own page, change privacy settings to avoid being tagged in pictures or other people’s posts, as well. 

How Social Media Posts Jeopardize Your Rights in a Personal Injury Claim

Depending on the type of accident you were involved in and other circumstances surrounding your case, you may be entitled to compensation either through insurance policies of the at-fault party or through a personal injury lawsuit. However, in investigating these cases, one of the first places insurance adjusters or attorneys representing the at-fault party are likely to to look is social media. 

When you sign up for Facebook, Twitter, or other social media sites, you agree to their terms and conditions. This means that investigators (as well as law enforcement officials) can review posted content. Ways information obtained can be used against you include: 

• To dispute the circumstances surrounding your injuries;
• To dispute the extent of your injuries;
• To dispute the amount of compensation you need to recover. 

Changing social media settings from Public to Private and not posting about your accident is a good start. However, the best protection is to temporarily disable these accounts until your claim is resolved.     

Discuss Your Case With Our Nashville Personal Injury Attorneys

At Bednarz Law, we represent people who suffer accidental injuries and provide the trusted legal guidance they need to get compensation in a claim. To discuss how we can help in your case, call (615) 256-0100 or contact our Nashville personal injury attorneys online and request a consultation today.