These days, we tend to use social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share every detail of our lives, from little things like what we had for breakfast to major events like the birth of a child. Needless to say, when something traumatic happens, we’re often tempted to tell everyone about it by making a post on our favorite social media platform.
In the case of a car accident, however, this kind of venting could unintentionally create legal problems. In this blog post, we’ll tell you why it’s a bad idea and what you can do to keep yourself safe.
Why Mixing Social Media and Car Accidents Is a Bad Idea
Even if your social media profile is private or restricted to most viewers, posts with photos or descriptions of your accident could still come back to bite you. Here’s how:
- Insurance companies may look at your social media profiles to check for evidence of the accident. If they find that something in one of your posts is an admission of fault on your part, they could deny coverage—even if you really weren’t at fault.
- You never know how your friends on social media are connected to other people. Even if your posts are private, there is the possibility that screenshots will be taken and somehow used to weaken your case.
- Even the most well-meaning comments can be disastrous for your case. If you respond to friends’ concerns with statements like “It’s okay, I’m fine,” it may give the impression that your case is not serious, even if you only made that comment to make your loved ones feel better.
- Always speak to a Houston car accident lawyer before you speak with anyone else. In the case of social media, the things you say are permanently recorded—even if you delete them afterward, which itself can create legal problems because it could be considered destruction of evidence. Even the most harmless-seeming posts could be saved and misused by others.
How to Avoid the Temptation of Social Media
There are a few ways you can keep yourself from posting about your car accident on Facebook and other sites, even when it’s especially tempting to vent:
- Get in contact with a lawyer right away who can help drive home the importance of keeping the details of your accident between yourself and your legal team. Sometimes you just need to hear it from a professional to really understand the risks.
- Temporarily delete all social media apps from your mobile devices and remove bookmarks from your browsers, as needed. This can keep you from being absent-minded and posting about your case out of habit. Sometimes even the most benign post can be used to argue that your life appeared back to normal when you know it isn’t. A serious injury from a car accident or truck accident can have a major impact on your life. While it may seem extreme, stepping away from social media until your case is resolved is often a great choice.
- Find a supportive person like a spouse, family member, or very close friend you can trust to protect your legal interests and not share details about your accident. Be careful, however—even talking to others in-person about the details of your accident can have negative ramifications.
- Make sure and tell your friends and family not to post about your accident either. Sometimes people text pictures of their damaged car after an accident to inform their friends and loved ones of the incident. Then the loved one or friend may post the picture along with a message like, “Thank goodness my daughter is ok.” These can be just as damaging to your case, so asking that those close to you follow the same rules as you can be beneficial.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, don’t run to Facebook—contact an expert Houston car accident attorney at Johnson Garcia LLP. Call us today at (832) 844-6700 to schedule your free initial consultation.
