For many of us, our first instinct whenever anything happens (good or bad) is to pull out our phones and share it with friends and followers. While that’s not a big deal when you get a flat white with perfect foam, it’s a different story altogether when you’re involved in a car accident. As any car accident lawyer in Mobile, AL, will tell you, it’s not a good idea to share the news of even a minor fender bender on your feeds.
Posting on social media after a car accident can come back to haunt you if you’re planning to file a personal injury case. It might sound dramatic, but the legal system may not care about your good intentions or the number of likes you get. In fact, those likes could end up costing you thousands of dollars or more.
So before you hit “post,” here’s why staying silent online after an accident might be the smartest move you make.
Why You Need To Stay Off Social Media After a Car Accident
It’s easy to think that posting seemingly innocent thoughts about your accident won’t make much difference to a legal battle. After all, if you aren’t saying anything negative about the other parties or discussing specifics, it won’t make a difference, right?
Wrong. If you are knee deep in negotiations with an insurance company or getting ready to go to court, the opposing counsel can (and will) look for anything they can use against you.
Your Posts Are Public Even When You Think They Aren’t
You might think your social media is private because you locked down your settings and only allow approved friends to see your posts. But that “private” post isn’t private, at least not in a court of law.
Attorneys are very good at digging, and that includes social media monitoring. They can request access to your social media as evidence, and judges may approve those requests, especially if your posts could be relevant to your injuries or behavior after the accident.
One cheerful posting on social media after a car accident, like “Feeling better already!” can imply you’re not really hurt or as hurt as you’re claiming to be.
Deleting potentially relevant content could be seen as destroying evidence, which might even hurt your case more than the post itself.
Defendants Will Use Your Words Against You
After a car accident, you might post something about your accident, like “Got rear-ended today. We’re okay, but it’s still annoying.”
That sentence might feel harmless, but if you’re later diagnosed with whiplash or a back injury and decide to sue, it can become legal evidence against you. The defense can argue that you initially said you weren’t hurt, so you’re lying about your injuries now.
Your social feed becomes a digital diary, so it’s better not to include anything that could raise questions about your injuries or integrity.
Photos Tell a Story
It’s not just posts about the accident that can get you into trouble with a personal injury case. Posting on social media after a car accident about your activities can give opposing counsel ammunition that suggests that your injuries aren’t as bad as you claim.
For example, a photo from your friend’s BBQ a week after the accident on your feed can suggest you’re back to normal, not in pain, and not someone who needs compensation for suffering. Even if you sit most of the time, nursing your injuries, lawyers can make an image of you smiling with a burger in hand tell a different story — one that doesn’t make you look good.
You Might Accidentally Admit Fault
The potential for accidental liability admission is another reason posting on social media after a car accident is a bad idea. It’s easy to unintentionally admit something you didn’t mean to, like “Wish I hadn’t looked down at the GPS for a second.”
In personal injury law, even a small admission can affect your compensation.
Friends and Family Can Hurt Your Case, Too
It’s not just your posts that can impact your case. Your friends tagging you in photos, mentioning you in comments, or checking you into locations can also raise red flags and give the defendant information they can use against you.
What To Do Instead To Protect Your Case
After any car accident, especially one with injuries, your best bet is to go dark on social media. That doesn’t mean deleting your accounts, but it does mean not posting anything new.
Talking to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible and following their advice can also help protect your case. Your attorney will likely recommend:
- Pausing all posts until the case is over.
- Setting all accounts to private, understanding that it won’t fully protect you.
- Not deleting anything without talking to your lawyer.
Remember, the less you say online, the more power your case may retain in the real world.
Consult Jackson & Foster Law About Your Car Accident Case
Posting on social media after a car accident might seem like a good way to get support or process what happened, but it’s better to remain silent. One careless post or selfie can raise doubts or call your credibility into question, making it harder to prove your case in court.
Instead of making a Facebook post, focus where needed on hiring a personal injury lawyer and talking to them before you talk to your followers. Contact Jackson & Foster Law in Mobile, AL, at (251) 433-6699 for a consultation and guidance on how to proceed.
