Shollenberger Januzzi & Wolfe, LLP

Why refrain from social media after an accident

Social media has become such an everyday part of life that even after a serious car accident, you still may be active on various platforms. However, if you are pursuing damages for your injuries, you may want to think twice about using social media.

Defendants in injury lawsuits, such as insurance companies, are known to peruse social media accounts of those injured. While recent stories show how this has worked successfully for insurance companies in some cases, those with serious, debilitating injuries should take note of some social media tips.

How social media can complicate your personal injury claim

Social media use can quickly undermine a personal injury claim, resulting in potentially less compensation for the injuries you suffered. For example, a tweet about the car accident you were in could unintentionally diminish the severity of your injuries. Photos of you working out, on vacation or even enjoying time with family and friends could compromise how badly hurt you really were.

What you can do

Throughout your personal injury claim, consider:

If you did unintentionally post anything that could relate in some way to your accident, refrain from deleting or removing it from your page. This could look suspicious if the insurance company already discovered it.

By taking steps to avoid potentially harmful social media activity, you can actively strengthen your claim and avoid taking anything away from the serious injuries you suffered.