Could Your Social Media Posts Derail Your Personal Injury Claim?
Have you been injured by an inconsiderate driver who may have caused an accident due to their inattention? If so, you may have racked up some considerable expenditure, have had to take a lot of time off work and have been dealing with some mental stress as well. You will certainly want to get some compensation for this situation, and you understand that insurance companies have policies in place for just this situation. Yet you will need to be careful as you put your case forward and not automatically assume that it is cut and dried. Why could your own behaviour, going forward, have a bearing on the outcome of the case?
Initiating the Process
Following the accident, you will have gathered the insurance details from the driver and may have already reached out to the company in question. They will have appointed one of their staff to consider the case, and will certainly have talked with their insured party. You may have witnesses that can come to your defence should there be any pushback, but you may be surprised to see that the insurance company has appointed a private investigator.
In cases like this, they will want to reduce their obligations as much as possible and may try to poke holes in your case. They will want to take a closer look at your claims that you have suffered as a consequence and analyse those bills and statements from healthcare providers.
You may well claim emotional stress and lack of energy and state that your life has been adversely affected by your injuries. Yet does your current lifestyle reflect this, and if not, why not?
Social Media Revelations
An investigator in this situation will want to scan your social media accounts. They can easily perform an online search, and they will be able to access any posts that you have made since the accident. Do these posts reflect your current state of affairs, or do they show you enjoying a holiday, taking part in an event, actively riding a bicycle and so on?
Clearly, you need to take care when you post, while you have an ongoing case like this. However, you should always be truthful and never attempt to cover things over as this may catch you out in the end and result in a lower settlement.
Professional Advice
Bring in a personal injury solicitor to help you navigate the maze. They will advise you accordingly and make sure that they are aware of your social media postings. Should the insurance company raise any questions, then they will be able to answer those firmly and decisively. This will help you to present a stronger case and get what you rightfully deserve.
