How Social Media Activity Harms Your Truck Accident Injury Claim

Virginia Truck Accident Attorney Shares Common Social Media Mistakes That Can Derail Your Personal Injury Case

Social media has quickly become an integral part of daily life. Many people use it every day to connect with friends and keep up with the latest news. Even so, it’s vital to resist the temptation to share details online about your Virginia truck accident case. Seemingly harmless photos and status updates can seriously harm your personal injury claim. Before hopping on TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook, our lawyers at The Mottley Law Firm offer this overview of social media mistakes you must avoid after a truck crash.

Common Social Media Mistakes to Avoid

All too often, people don’t give a second thought before sharing their thoughts online. However, if you’re seeking damages following a Virginia truck crash, you must be mindful of your social media behavior. One wrong post can completely undermine your personal injury lawsuit. We encourage you to consider the following actions carefully.

Discussing Your Virginia Truck Accident Online

You need to be careful using social media after a car accident. It may seem perfectly normal to tell your friends that you’re feeling okay after the truck accident, but insurance company adjusters may use your posts as evidence to deny your claim. They may misinterpret or misconstrue your words to downplay your pain and suffering. It’s best to keep any information about the incident away from the internet. Similarly, don’t leave comments about it on other people’s posts either. They can harm your case, too.

Posting Photos and Videos Related to the Truck Crash

After an accident, taking photos or videos of the crash scene is in your best interest. This evidence supports your claim that the truck driver is at fault. For example, you can’t simply assume that truckers are always to blame for all rear-end accidents. To recover damages, you must still prove liability. Only share these records with your truck accident attorney. Don’t post any of these photos or videos on social media. This can leave them open to scrutiny and interpretation.

Sharing Candid Photos of Daily Activity

It’s not just photos of the accident scene that you should avoid sharing online. Another common social media mistake is posting pictures from your daily life. Your personal injury case may state that you’re in extreme pain, but a photo of you playing at the park with the kids compromises that claim. Insurance companies use surveillance, including social media posts, to reduce or deny your potential settlement amount. 

Among the many myths about truck accident cases is you don’t need a doctor if you feel fine after the crash. This isn’t true. Injuries can develop and worsen over time. You may feel fine doing yard work a couple of days after the truck accident, but your back pain can become much more severe a few days later. But that yardwork photo can weaken your claim later on. 

Setting Your Social Media Profiles to Public

Setting your social media accounts to private while your personal injury case is still outstanding is a good idea. This way, outside investigators won’t have access to your private information, including past social media posts. A public profile leaves you vulnerable.

Accepting New Friend Requests From Strangers

After you’ve updated the privacy settings on your social media accounts, you may start to receive friend requests from people you don’t know. The strangers who seek to follow your updates could be working with the trucking company’s insurer. Attorneys and adjusters are looking for ways to defend against your accident claim. 

Allowing Tags From Friends and Family

Your own social media posts aren’t your only source of concern. When friends and family post about you online, outside investigators could use those posts as evidence that your injuries aren’t as severe as you claim. Talk to your friends and family members about these social media mistakes. Ask them not to post about you or tag you in any photos until the case is closed.

Deleting Social Media Posts You’ve Already Published

Even if you’re worried you may have committed one of the social media mistakes discussed above, don’t delete any existing posts. Lawyers representing the truck driver may have already taken screenshots. If you delete the post, you may be accused of destroying evidence and used by insurance companies to avoid paying your claim. If you’re concerned about old posts, ask the skilled lawyers at The Mottley Law Firm about your best course of action moving forward. 

The Mottley Law Firm Will Help Protect Your Potential Truck Accident Recovery 

Between lost wages and mounting medical bills, as well as emotional trauma and suffering, commercial truck accident claims in Virginia can be incredibly stressful. The laws are often complex and have many stipulations. However, by hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer, you’ll improve your chances of receiving fair compensation for your claim. Our skilled truck accident lawyers are dedicated to protecting your legal rights. 

The Mottley Law Firm has a proven track record of success. In one case, we partnered with the Brain Injury Law Center to represent a woman struck by a tractor-trailer in James City County. She suffered a traumatic brain injury and a spinal injury. The outcome of the case was a $1.3 million settlement a few weeks before trial.