If You Were in an Accident, Stay Off of Social Media

Many people drive every day, unaware of the danger of a car accident that may be right around the next corner. And while sometimes accidents are merely a small inconvenience, it can be a devastating or long lasting change in some cases. Every year in Florida alone, there are over 400,000 accidents, with 3,000 fatalities included in that number. Even those who are not killed in an accident can face life-long injuries, such as Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs), torn muscles or ligaments, broken bones, spinal injuries, or anxiety or PTSD related to accidents. In this time of heightened stress, it might seem like a simple thing to post about it on social media — but this can be something that might hinder or even destroy your chances to get the remuneration you need.

Social Media is Not Your Friend

After an accident, and as soon as you begin legal proceedings related to the accident, one of the first things that will be watched is your social media. It doesn’t take even a rookie private investigator more than a few minutes to find any major social media you may be using. Each and every post after the accident will be thoroughly examined and scrutinized, and carefully looked over for any sign of fraud or dishonesty. Even for those who have visible and clear injuries, it is important not to rant on social media or to even post details about the accident itself. One thing out of line on social media could be the information that can mess up your case, before it even starts.

Things to Avoid Saying on Social Media

To begin with, avoid using your social media accounts as much as possible. This might be easy or difficult for you, but it will only be for the duration of the case. When using social media, it is important not to discuss or do the following things, as they may cast a poor light on yourself or your injuries and thus damage your reliability in court:

• Be careful about check-ins, photos, and posts (especially those that involve activities that might seem suspicious).
• Do not discuss the case online at all, and perhaps avoid talking about it altogether.
• Even if friends are concerned, avoid posting about injuries, the “road to recovery,” or anything related to accident injuries. It may seem natural to reassure friends and family, but this can damage your case as well.
• Set your social media to private, to help keep outside parties from accessing any posts made.
• Finally, inform your family and friends about the “don’ts” of posting about your case, so that they don’t unintentionally hurt you. When in doubt, it is best to post nothing rather than something.

Were You in a Car Accident Here in Orlando?

One of the best things to do while preparing for a case is to speak with a skilled Orlando personal injury lawyer. We here at Payer Law know how to keep you from these and other common pitfalls when preparing a case after a car accident. To speak to one of our personal injury attorneys about your case and set up a free, no-risk consultation, please do not hesitate to contact us today.

Resource:

flhsmv.gov/pdf/crashreports/crash_facts_2019.pdf

medlineplus.gov/traumaticbraininjury.html

https://www.payerlawgroup.com/the-invisible-car-accident-injury-how-a-tbi-can-affect-your-life/