In today’s digital age, social media is a constant presence in our lives. Many people turn to Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, and other social media platforms to share their experiences and connect with others. However, when it comes to a motorcycle accident, it’s important to think twice before posting on social media. Sharing information about your motorcycle accident can negatively impact your case and complicate your Louisville motorcycle accident lawyer’s attempts to get you a fair financial recovery.
How Social Media Posts Can Be Used Against You in a Motorcycle Accident Case
Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys often search social media profiles to find evidence that could be used against you in your motorcycle accident claim. For example, if you post photos of yourself participating in physical activities after the accident, they might argue that your injuries are not as severe as claimed. Additionally, any posts you make about the accident could be taken out of context and used against you in settlement talks or legal proceedings.
Five Ways to Use Social Media Responsibly After a Louisville Motorcycle Crash
Staying off social media completely after a motorcycle accident may be unrealistic. You may want to wish your friend a happy birthday, stay current on local events, or follow your favorite influencers. If you want to continue using social media sites, our Louisville motorcycle accident lawyers encourage you to:
Avoid Discussing the Accident
Do not post anything about your motorcycle crash on any social media platform. This includes comments about who was at fault for the crash, how the crash happened, or what you did after the crash.
Limit Access to Your Social Media Accounts
Adjust privacy settings so only close friends and family members can view your posts. This will help prevent unwanted individuals like insurance adjusters from accessing potentially damaging information. However, some insurance adjusters may be able to get around your security settings. Accordingly, you should not post anything you would not want the public to see.
Delete Previous Posts
If there are already posts relating to the incident available online before consulting with an attorney, consider deleting them immediately upon advice from legal counsel.
Do Not Discuss Your Health
Sharing information about your medical condition, treatment progress, or doctor visits could be used to discredit your claim. Keep these updates private and share them offline with close friends and family members.
Tell Your Friends Not to Include You in Social Media Posts
Your well-meaning friends may tag you in a picture or post that could be found and used out of context to prove that you are not as injured as you claim. For example, a simple post thanking you for coming to celebrate a friend’s birthday could be used to show that you can leave the house for parties despite your injuries. The post won’t include whether you had to rest all day to have the energy to attend or if you experienced significant pain at or after the event.
Now Is the Time to Protect Your Motorcycle Accident Recovery
Staying off of social media is just one tip for getting a fair motorcycle accident recovery. Our experienced Louisville motorcycle accident lawyers can make sure that you avoid other mistakes and take the necessary actions to protect your recovery, which may include compensation for past and future:
- Medical costs. Health care costs including, but not limited to, emergency care, hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, doctors’ visits, and rehabilitation therapies may be part of your recovery.
- Lost income. If your motorcycle accident injuries keep you out of work, you may recover compensation for lost wages, benefits, bonuses, income from self-employment, or lost earning potential.
- Out-of-pocket costs. Property damage and any costs made necessary by your accident injuries are compensable.
- Pain and suffering. Your emotional suffering and physical pain may be hard to quantify without the help of an experienced motorcycle accident attorney, but our experienced lawyers will help you get the recovery you deserve.
Your motorcycle accident recovery is too important to be jeopardized by a social media post.