How Does Social Media Affect Your Personal Injury Claim?

In today’s world, sharing life updates and pics on your favorite social media platform is second nature. But if you’ve filed a recent personal injury claim, you must be careful about what you post on social media. Insurance companies watch profiles, looking for anything to use against you. Even one simple post could hurt your case. Learn more about how social media can affect your claim and how to protect yourself online.

The Risks of Social Media After Filing a Claim

After you submit your claim, insurance companies will look for any way to reduce or outright dismiss it. That said, they’ll be looking for anything that may look suspicious, including social media posts. For example, say you filed a claim for back injuries that affect your mobility. However, your Instagram shows you doing activities that could potentially hurt your back, such as weight lifting. Even if it helps your recovery, insurers may use it to downplay your injuries.

For this reason, your social media presence could weaken your injury claims if you aren’t careful. Always think before you post to avoid giving insurers a reason to suspect your claim.

How To Use Social Media During The Process

You don’t have to abandon social media during your claim. But you need to be very selective about what you share. Here are a few tips you can use to stay safe:

Adjust Your Privacy Settings

Protecting your account can be as simple as adjusting your privacy settings. Most major sites will have options to limit who can see your profile. You can also take extra precautions, including turning off location tagging, unfriending people you don’t know, or even starting a new account with the highest privacy settings. It may take some extra work, but it’ll help prevent insurance companies from accessing your information. 

Think Before You Post

Before your next post, always ask yourself if it could damage your case or potentially give insurance companies a reason to misinterpret your injuries. If the answer is “yes” or “maybe,” don’t share it until after your case ends. No social media post is worth risking your claim.

Review Your Past Posts

Insurance companies won’t be satisfied with recent stories. They may even search your entire social media history to find anything that helps them. To be on the safe side, look back over at least a year’s worth of your posts, pictures, and videos. If you see anything questionable about your claim, delete it to avoid potential problems. Cleaning up your social media history will also help you control how you’re portrayed online during your claim.

Start Your Personal Injury Claim Today

While social media may seem irrelevant to cases, more and more insurance companies are using your accounts to find ways to ruin your claim. Don’t give them that satisfaction and keep your personal information protected at all costs. If you or someone you know has questions about their case, our New York personal injury lawyers are here to help. Please contact us online or at (866) 442-0513 to schedule a free consultation today.