How Posting on Social Media Could Hurt Your Car Accident Claim
In our modern world, it isn’t unusual for people to overshare and tell the public details about their life that would have stayed private information just two decades earlier. When it comes to accident claims, keeping the details of your life close to your chest ensures that the insurance company cannot use this information to poke holes in your version of the accident or dispute claims.
If you were injured in an automobile accident in Austin, Texas, you might be entitled to compensation. Reckless drivers hurt thousands of innocent people every year, and you should never give them or their insurance company additional ammunition to fight off claims or limit payments by posting the wrong thing online.
At the Law Office of William Jang, PLLC, our Austin personal injury attorneys know the devastation that severe automobile collisions can bring into your life. Don’t try to take on insurance companies alone. Contact us at (512) 323-2333 or through our website to learn how we can fight for you and protect your rights during the complex legal process of pursuing compensation.
Causes of Auto Accidents
You deserve compensation if a negligent driver ignored the rules of the road or drove with wanton disregard for the safety of others and subsequently involved you in an accident. Common reasons for automobile accidents are:
- Impaired drivers – Impairment can come in many forms, the most common of which are alcohol or drug-induced impairment and sleep deprivation. When a driver gets behind the wheel of their car knowingly impaired, they put everyone around them at risk and open themselves up to liability in the event of a crash.
- Distracted driving – Anything that keeps a driver’s hands, eyes, or focus off the road can cause a severe accident. Personal conversations and electronic devices are the most common distractions that lead to accidents. Almost 400,000 injuries and nearly 3,500 deaths are a result of distracted drivers each year in the US, according to the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI).
- Unsafe Driving Habits – Sometimes, drivers are fully aware of their surroundings and still make poor decisions. Someone hoping to arrive home before the big game starts might speed, unexpectedly change lanes, or fail to yield even when they aren’t impaired or distracted.
Types of Compensation Available in Auto Accident Cases
The potential losses you suffer from a car accident can take many forms. When you post about your accident online, you may be unintentionally putting one or more of these types of compensation at risk. You could be eligible for compensation for:
- Medical bills
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional damage
- Property damage
- Lost wages and earning potential
- Transportation costs
Fault in a Car Accident
In Texas, the driver who causes an accident is responsible for the injuries and losses of those who are harmed by that accident. That means you will file a claim with the negligent driver’s insurance company following an accident. If the total amount of your compensable losses is substantial or you can’t reach an appropriate settlement with the insurance company, you can sue the opposing party. This task will be much easier with the help of an Austin car accident attorney. Your attorney will know how to obtain compensation for the full value of your injury.
Social Media and Accident Claims
Insurance companies don’t like paying out large settlements and will do everything in their power to find ways to limit their liability. In recent years, insurance companies have started scouring social media to find evidence that boosts their case or shifts some of the blame onto the injured person.
Some examples might include the following:
- Following an accident, you post on social media about how your injuries have started feeling better. An insurance company can use this info to argue that the pain and suffering aspect of your claim is overblown or unreasonable.
- Someone asks you online how the accident occurred, and you state that you could have done more to prevent it. Even if the other driver was negligent and you had no chance to react, insurance companies can use a simple comment like this where you express some guilt about the situation to deny your claim or reduce the amount of compensation you could obtain.
- You power through the pain and take a video with your family without using crutches for a short time. Insurance companies will argue that your medical problems are fake or have improved faster than you claim.
Contact An Austin Car Accident Attorney
It may be tempting, but you should never discuss the details of your case in a public forum. Let the experienced Austin car accident attorneys at the Law Office of William Jang, PLLC handle all aspects of your case while you focus on recovering. Contact us today at (512) 323-2333.
