The world has changed a lot in recent years. Facebook was only founded in 2004 but nowadays, it’s hard to imagine a world where social media didn’t exist. Of course, social media has brought many great benefits with it, but there are times when we are best off ignoring our craving to post.
One such time is in the days following an auto accident. While we may wish to share our experiences in such a stressful time, doing so can have negative consequences moving forward.
Here are 5 tips for your social media use after an auto accident:
Avoid Posting About the Incident
According to Schwartz Law Firm in Baton Rouge, LA insurance companies can use any information you post to lessen your claim. While you should take photos to document the incident, it’s best not to post them on social media as they could end up being used against you if you’re seeking compensation.
The draw of social media is that we want to share our experiences with people and an accident is a major experience in our lives, but in this case, it’s best to hold back from posting.
If people try to engage you in conversation about the accident online, then avoid responding and make sure your privacy settings are up to date.
Don’t Post Pictures After the Crash
Because of the nature of some injuries, you can feel fine for a short time after the crash because your adrenaline is surging. It’s best not to post pictures of yourself online in the aftermath of a crash because once again, they can be used against you. Even posting pictures of you recovering from your injuries can shed doubt on the severity of your injuries, and potentially hurt your case. It’s unfortunate, but really, the best way to avoid hurting your case is to avoid social media.
Social Media Isn’t Private
“Nothing you upload to social media is private and secure.” This is the unfortunate downside of our ability to share our lives through social media. Anything we post can be found and used against us, and in cases involving auto accidents, they often are.
It’s not the first thing we think about after a crash – that we shouldn’t be using social media, but in today’s world, it is the reality. This might be difficult for many people, but it’s certainly in their best interests.
The best way to protect yourself is to avoid posting about your accident on social media, and then seek the advice of your lawyer. It might seem like just a tiny thing, but you want to be as protected as you can be in a delicate situation like an auto accident.
Don’t succumb to your natural inclination to post your thoughts on the incident, and you will find you might just save yourself a lot of hassle in the future.
The world has changed a lot in recent years and social media now plays a huge part in our society, but in this situation, it’s best to go back to the past and put the social media down for a while. It’s a small price to pay for avoiding legal problems.
