Social Media Use After an Accident

I understand the impulse to hop on Instagram and tell everyone you were just in a car wreck, but I don’t think that’s the greatest idea. In an ideal world, you wouldn’t post on Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media about an injury that occurred due to someone else’s fault. Here’s why: When you inform your friends and family that you’re okay, the other side—the insurance company for the other driver who caused the wreck—will likely get a snapshot of that social media post where you say you’re fine. They’ll use it to their advantage, even if you may have had a concussion or suffered from whiplash that required surgery months later. The fact that you said, “I’m fine,” can be blown out of proportion. We don’t want to give them the gift of you reassuring your family and friends through social media that you’re not dead. That’s essentially what you’re doing. You’re trying to reassure your loved ones that everything is okay, but the insurance companies will use that against you. My advice is not to post anything about your wreck on social media.

Additionally, I suggest avoiding posting videos of you on a roller coaster at King’s Dominion, for example. Even if it’s from before the wreck, the insurance company might try to use it to discredit your claim. We don’t want to explain away issues; we want to convey to the adjuster and jury that you were hurt and are entitled to compensation. So, try to avoid social media as much as possible when discussing a wreck and when showing physical activity afterward. It will be better for you and your case in the end.