I remember helping a client during one of my internships while I was still a law student. The client found us through her mother, who I connected with on social media. I saw a short post stating that (we’ll call her Jenny) Jenny was in an accident, but she’s ok! I read the statement, thought, “well I’m glad she’s OK,” and went on with life.
The problem was Jenny’s mom and I apparently have different definitions of “OK.” To me, “OK” meant that Jenny was in a collision so minor that it caused no harm to her person! Yes, I know, that’s the lawyer in me. Jenny’s mom’s definition was something more like Jenny was in a collision, but she will live despite her injuries which were pretty apparent.
Here is the problem. If an insurance company has a friend of a friend in common with you, and you’re saying that you’re OK, who’s definition of “OK” do you think they are more likely to use? Mine, or Jenny’s mom’s? You probably guessed mine, and you’re probably right. This is one of the many reasons that I advise clients not to post on social media after a collision.
Imagine this: you were in a car accident and you have a ski trip planned for the following week. Its a trip that’s been planned for six months. Everything is paid for, and lots of your friends are going. Are you going to go? Probably. Now hopefully you do the sensible thing and do not ski! Hopefully you go with your friends but spend time relaxing and healing at the lodge. You’re very disappointed that you couldn’t ski because of your injuries, but you still had fun being with friends and recuperating from your wreck. Unfortunately, we never post anything reality based on social media, so you post a picture of you and all your friends in ski gear and you say “had a great time on my ski trip!” How do you suppose the insurance company is going to take that when your friend of a friend, who is the insurance adjuster assigned to your case, sees it?
None of this should be misconstrued to suggest that you should go skiing and just say you’re hurt. Never exaggerate your injuries, never present your case in any other way except for the way things really are. The takeaway from this case is that what you put on social media can be misunderstood and possibly used against you even when it is perfectly innocent. Don’t post on social media for a while after a collision; how long should be determined by you and your attorney.
Give Civitas Law Group a call today so that we can work out an appropriate plan for your case.
