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Caution on Social Media After an Accident

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.

 

These days, the internet has made its way into countless facets of our lives, and especially our social lives, from keeping up with friends and relatives to sharing random thoughts and feelings. For these very reasons, some may be drawn to social media after suffering a serious injury in an accident, but this can be detrimental to their pursuit of compensation in a personal injury claim.

Insurance companies profit by making more for premiums than what is paid out for claims, and so they employ insurance adjusters to minimize or even avoid these payouts wherever possible. Part of this, intrusive as it may sound, is browsing your social media profiles for any revealing information about the accident or your injuries. Did you assure your friends you were “okay” or “not hurt” after the accident? Have you posted photos of yourself out and about when you’re supposed to be bed-ridden? Have you been involved in physical activity in a photo or video taken by friends? These are just a few examples of posts which can and will be used against you and may result in losing your claim.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, it may be best to avoid social media entirely. If you want to reassure friends or relatives of your condition, telephone and e-mail are just as efficient. If you wish to stay on social media, consider switching your accounts to “friends only” or similar private settings which restrict access to your posts. Do not accept any social media requests from an insurance adjuster: your dealings with this individual are strictly professional and he/she has no business attempting to connect with you directly, even if your accounts are being browsed for suspicious activity. Also beware of any requests from strangers during this time, as some adjusters are not above creating fake profiles to access your posts.

Keep an eye on any pictures including you which appear on social media, especially if they were taken before your accident. If you went on vacation before the accident but posted pictures from it after you were injured, for example, this can be misconstrued by an adjuster as a recent event. While it may not ultimately hurt your case if handled properly, you must be able to prevent and avoid these misconceptions before they ever transpire and potentially hurt your chances of earning compensation.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, contact 844 See Mike, LLC for a free consultation. We are a Chicago-based injury law firm representing individuals (and their families) who have suffered an injury in an accident. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you.

Lastly, 844 See Mike is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.

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