If you are like most folks, you probably love to post and share on social media. Whether it is making fun dance videos on TikTok, posting updates on your life on Facebook and X, or simply scrolling through videos on Instagram, social media is an enjoyable way to learn about things and meet people with similar interests. However, many folks get into the habit of over-sharing, letting people they’ve never met learn intimate details of their private lives. Unless you opt for the maximum privacy settings, perfect strangers can find out things that you might otherwise not want to share.
When you’ve been involved in a car accident, you may feel the inclination to post details on your social media accounts. This may be a way to let friends and loved ones know you are okay or to get support from your social network. But posting on social media after a car accident is also filled with risks, which is why you should talk to your car accident attorney before hitting that “post” button.
The Benefits of Sharing Details About a Car Accident
There may be some positives to sharing about a car accident. For example, someone in your social network may have been involved in a similar collision, and they can advise you on how to cope with it. They may also be able to recommend an auto body repair shop in your vicinity. Sites like Yelp have reviews of these repair centers, and getting a recommendation could help you get your car fixed by an experienced expert.
Posting on social media may also help you locate witnesses. It is not uncommon for people to take webcam footage from their vehicles or while they are walking around the neighborhood. As a result, there is a chance that someone you have never met has filmed your crash with their smartphone. This could be helpful as it may demonstrate that the other driver was at fault. Of course, this could be problematic if it turns out that the footage shows that you were at least partially at fault for the accident through contributory negligence.
The Downside of Sharing Details About Your Collision
Everything you post on the Internet can be used against you in a court of law here in Kentucky. You should always keep this in mind when posting about anything. This applies to car accidents as well. When you file a claim with your auto insurance, you will have to provide things like photographs of the accident, pictures of the damage to your car and the other vehicle, and a statement of what you believe happened. If you suffered any injuries, you will also need to provide reports from the doctor and hospital that treated you. Each of these items will be used by the claims adjuster to determine how much you are entitled to under your claim. It will also be used to coordinate with the other driver’s insurance company.
When you post details of your accident online, you could risk hurting your claim if anything you say or post contradicts the photographs, statements, and reports you filed with the insurance company. You can also risk being accused of filing a fraudulent claim. This can hurt your chances of recovering anything for damages to your car, physical injuries, and pain and suffering. It can also lead to your insurance company canceling your future coverage.
If your insurance company or the other driver’s attorney is aware that you have social media accounts, they can request that you turn over the contents of everything you posted around the time of the accident. Even if you delete a post, this can always be recovered from the social media provider. Moreover, if you delete your account after the accident, you run the risk of being accused of spoliation of evidence. This can undermine any claim you make against your insurance company or the other motorist by the court not allowing you to enter in certain evidence to support your case. This is why you should think twice before sharing any details about your involvement in a car accident on social media.
If You Have Been Involved in a Car Accident, Call Us Today!
Car accidents can often be a very traumatic experience. Not only is your car damaged, making it difficult to drive around time. You may also suffer a physical or mental injury as well. At the Dickman Law Offices, our experienced car accident attorneys can help you with your claim and get you the compensation you deserve.
Posted in: Car Accidents