Social Media and Virginia Car Accidents: The Pitfalls of Sharing Too Much

It has almost become second nature to share your personal details with friends and family on social media, especially as platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram can keep you in touch with your community across the globe. Therefore, if you were injured in a Virginia car accident, you may not think twice about sharing your experience, feelings, and ordeal on social media. Before you hit “Post” on that video, image, or comment, there are a few things you should know about spreading the word. You put your rights and future at risk in ways you may not have even expected. A knowledgeable Hampton auto accidents lawyers can tell you more about how to handle online communications, but here a few reasons to keep details under wraps.

Your Claim and the Insurer

You may be able to recover compensation for your losses as a victim of a motor vehicle collision, and you start by filing a claim with the responsible driver’s insurance company. Like any business, insurers are driven by profits and they instruct their employees to find reasons to reject your claim. The information you post on social media tells a story – one that an insurance company representative can use to contest your claim.

Social Media Activity can Put Your Claim at Risk

Though anything you share with your network can be used against you by an insurance adjuster or attorney. There are two key areas where revealing too much can jeopardize your interests. Your images, videos, and other activities may:

• Create Questions About Fault: You may think your conversation is private, but even revealing a minute detail about the circumstances could raise questions about whether your conduct contributed to the accident. Virginia’s contributory negligence law bars you from recovering any compensation if you were even partly at fault.
• Lead to Doubts About Your Injuries: It is fun to post pictures and videos about enjoyable activities, but this content could disclose your level of physical activity and potentially raise an issue about the seriousness or painfulness of your injuries. An insurance company will most certainly reject your claim if you were zip-lining two days after the collision.  Defense attorneys routinely obtain social media content in preparation for a deposition of the plaintiff.
• Contradict Your Location: Even when your comments, pictures, or videos, do not implicate you for certain activities, social media posts time- and date-stamp your location. A person with severe injuries should be home resting or seeking medical care in the days after a crash, not shopping, dining out, or enjoying happy hour.

Trust Your Claim to a Hampton Auto Accidents Attorney

It is true that the internet is forever, and you likely take this into account in connection with employment, friendships, and romantic relationships. Even when you implement the highest security settings on social media, you probably know that your content can fall into the wrong hands. In the context of an auto accident, the implications may be just as severe. Your claim for compensation is subject to questions and doubt by an insurance company employee, so it is best to take a break in the immediate aftermath of a car collision.

For more information on the ways you can bolster the strength of your case, please contact Hampton Injury Law at 757.838.1136 or online. Mr. Hoen can schedule a free evaluation to discuss the details of your claim.