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Truck Accidents: 4 Tips for Using Social Media after a Commercial Vehicle Accident
In the wake of a devastating truck accident, you might want to jump onto social media to seek out emotional support or just to vent your frustrations. However, before you hit “post”, you need to consider the potential ramifications that your social media activity could have on your chances of recovering fair compensation.
The insurer may monitor your social media accounts for any evidence that could be used to challenge your credibility. As such, you should expect every post to be scrutinized closely.
In most situations, it’s best to lie low, either by temporarily deactivating your accounts or limiting your online activity. However, if this digital cleanse isn’t possible for you, here are a few ways you can protect your claim next time you go online:
1. Tweak Your Privacy Settings
If your profile is open for everyone to see, it’s relatively easy for the insurer to start digging through your posts to find something that could be used as evidence to dispute your claim. As such, you should ramp up your privacy settings so that only approved connections can view and interact with what you’ve posted. There are, however, still ways for others to circumvent these settings. For instance, someone could view what you’ve posted through third-party connections or by sending you an invitation to connect.
2. Screen Friend Requests Carefully
Is your profile private? Your work isn’t done yet. If you receive any connection requests while your claim is pending, make sure you check who is on the other side of this invitation before hitting “approve”. It may be someone working for the trucking company or insurer, so accepting this request could give them the freedom to comb through your posts at their own leisure.
3. Never Discuss the Accident
After a traumatic event like a truck accident, it’s tempting to take to social media and share all the details of this life-threatening encounter. However, as your comments can be used as evidence to challenge your case, you should never discuss the accident online. You should also avoid talking about other topics such as your injuries, recovery, expenses, social activities, and pending claim.
4. Abstain from Uploading Pictures
While an image may seem unrelated to your case, there are still ways a claims adjuster could use a seemingly innocent snapshot to dispute liability and damages. For instance, photos of you at the park just a few days after the wreck could be leveraged to assert that your injuries aren’t as serious as you are claiming. Alternatively, the claims adjuster might argue that you ignored your doctor’s orders to rest by leaving your home to spend time outside.
Discuss Your Case with a Texas Truck Accident Attorney
Your actions on social media aren’t the only mistakes that could hurt your truck accident claim. At Hilliard Law, our legal team can help guide you through proceedings, advising you of common missteps and how to avoid them.
We are committed to helping truck accident victims seek justice in the wake of a devastating wreck, providing tailored representation at every stage. Contact us today at 1-800-334-3298 or visit our Contact Page to request a free case review with a Texas truck accident lawyer.
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