Social media is part of everyday life for millions of Americans. Facebook and similar sites are wonderful platforms for communication, until they aren’t. We as personal injury accident lawyers are all too aware of the phenomenon that is known as overshare on social media. Overshare is when someone posts way too much personal information online and lets everyone view it. Most of the time, this is just simply embarrassing to the person who posted the content. But there are life events that you do not want to share on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, and those include auto accidents. The reason why is that what you post on these sites can become evidence used against you.
Why Talking About an Accident on Facebook is a Bad Idea
Let’s talk about an example, you are driving around town as you normally do and you are involved in a car accident. You may be at fault; you may not be, but the fact remains that an accident happened. It’s a traumatic event, even when injuries are minor, and one way of dealing with trauma is to talk about it. However, it is important to not talk about it on social media whatsoever. You can get yourself into trouble just by saying the words “I was in an accident today.”
Here’s why it’s a bad idea to talk about it on Facebook: everything you say about the accident can come back to haunt you later, especially if you need to take legal action against the other party or parties in the accident. It may also help law enforcement determine who was at fault and insurance companies may use your posts against you when determining who bears responsibility for the accident. The same goes for any injuries you may have sustained in the accident. A comment that downplays the seriousness of your injuries can cause you trouble.
Posts like these diminish the seriousness of the accident and make it more difficult for you to make a convincing claim for your injuries and losses. The same goes for any pictures of the accident or your injured self you put online.
What Happens When You Post on Facebook About Your Accident?
When you post, you are creating a written record that is visible and permanent even if it’s set to private. The lawyers for the other party have various ways to get around privacy settings and uncover what you have posted. Opposing counsel then has evidence that shows you weren’t as badly injured as you said you were. They can take this information to a judge or jury and show that your injury and damage claims shouldn’t be taken seriously. Essentially, you have undermined your own case and made it harder for your lawyer to create an effective argument on your behalf.
Steps to Take After an Accident
The first thing you or a family member needs to do is to contact our office as soon as possible and alert us of the incident. We can advise you on what to do next. What you should not do, under any circumstances whatsoever, is post to Facebook or other social media sites about your accident. Say nothing at all about what happened and only inform those who need to know. You preserve your privacy and make your case stronger when you keep your personal information away from the public at large.
Greenville, NC Personal Injury Attorneys
I’m Brian Ricci, a Personal Injury Lawyer in Greenville, NC. If you have suffered a personal injury, please call me anytime at (252) 777-2222 or (888) 484-6881 for free, friendly advice. Let’s go over the details of your accident case over the phone and see how best to proceed. The call is free and there is no obligation to you.
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