Some destroy their car accident claim at the scene of the crash by outright lying about what happened. Some destroy it later when dealing with the insurance company and hastily providing a written statement. But there are some less obvious ways that could also ruin a claim. One of these is indiscriminate social media use.
The Dangerous Impact of Social Media During a Claim
Fraud is a common problem in the insurance industry. Consequently the insurance company may use whatever means possible to detect it. Sometimes that includes scouring a claimant’s social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Even when fraud isn’t present, adjusters may still use this tactic to diminish the value of a claim or to substantiate a denial.
Social media can be a powerful investigative tool. In fact, many insurance companies look into claimants’ social media accounts. The following are some ways that social media use can hamper your efforts to collect fair compensation.
Posting Pictures That Contradict Injuries
It’s not uncommon for someone injured in a car accident to share with the world what happened. Oftentimes this includes posting pictures of damaged vehicles. If there are also pictures of the person engaging in activities that contradict claims of physical injuries, they could ruin the claim.
Unfortunately, in many cases there aren’t date stamps on pictures posted online. So even if it was an old picture, the insurance adjuster wouldn’t know. Therefore, an adjuster may argue that the claimant isn’t really injured or the injury is not as significant as believed.
Allowing Access to Your Location/Activities
Another way claimants may damage their claims is by logging activities online. For instance, Foursquare is an application used to share a person’s location, photos of the location, and reviews of it.
It might not be a big deal if it shows you are at a restaurant. But it would look suspicious if it indicated you were at a bowling alley when making a claim about a serious back injury whether or not you were participating or just watching.
Posting Destructive Comments
Tweets and status updates are another way that claimants might ruin a claim. Even something that may seem irrelevant to you – like posting about a fight you had with your spouse directly before the crash – could suggest that your emotional state was a contributing factor.
Tags or comments from other friends on social media can also be damaging. Let’s say someone posts about the accident and in jest, friends respond with comments such as, “I told you not to drive so fast,” or “Not surprised – you’ve always been a terrible driver.” Even if they were jokes, an insurance adjuster could use this information against you.
Protect your claim if you’re currently pursuing a car accident claim. In addition to being aware of the potentially negative effects of social networking while you’re seeking compensation, check out Hensley Legal Group’s free eBook, Consumer’s Guide for Injured Victims.