You could suffer life-altering injuries if injured in a pedestrian accident caused by a negligent Norfolk or Virginia Beach driver. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries under Virginia law. However, it can hurt your claim if you post on social media while your insurance claim is pending. If you want to win your case, you should immediately retain an experienced car accident attorney who can help you avoid costly mistakes like posting on social media.
Three Ways the Insurance Company Can Use Your Social Media Posts Against You
Posting on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media sites is a popular way to stay in touch with family and friends. However, staying off social media sites while your pedestrian accident claim is being settled is best.
Why is this important? The insurance company for the negligent driver may do everything they can to deny your claim or try to force you to accept less money than you deserve in your settlement. They will likely search your social media sites while in negotiations with you. Here are three ways your social media posts could weaken your case:
- Statements you make. The insurance company will search for statements you make that they can use to show you were at fault in the crash or that your injuries are not as severe as you claim. They may twist even innocent statements, such as “I’m sorry” or “I’m feeling better today,” to their advantage.
- Photos you post. Photos you post on social media can also hurt your case if they show you enjoying life or doing things you shouldn’t be able to do given your injuries. For example, if you post pictures while on vacation or at a dinner or party at a bowling alley, the insurance company could use them to argue that you are not as injured as you claim.
- Friends and family posts. The insurance company could also search the posts of your family and friends to find ones where you are mentioned or tagged in. They would use these posts similarly to your statements and photos on social media sites.