Why car accident injury victims should stay off of social media

You’ve been in a car wreck. You’re hurt and your car has been totaled. You’ve been transported to the hospital and you’ve called your dearest loved ones. What do you do next? If you’re like most Americans, you’re going to be tempted to let your wider “village” know what is going on by posting on at least one social media platform. It’s going to be important for you to resist that urge. While there have been some fruitful results when individuals have spoken truth to power – usually in regard to insurance companies – online while taking legal action in the wake of misfortune, it is far more common that posting about injurious scenarios leads to complications and/or the compromise of a victim’s legal case. As a result of this reality, you’re going to want to speak directly to people when discussing your car accident. Until your case is fully resolved, you’re going to want to assume that anything that you write, any picture you post and any content with which you engage will be obtained by an insurance company or opposing counsel, misinterpreted and used as a reason to deny you the maximum value of any rightful compensation you’re owed. What you should do instead It’s also a good idea to treat emails and texts in a sensitive manner, as they could potentially be used as evidence as well. Instead, vent over the phone, schedule time to chat with loved ones in-person and seek legal guidance as soon as you can. By taking great care with the ways in which you communicate until your case is resolved, you’ll place yourself in the best possible position to protect your rights and maximize your opportunities to obtain justice against those who have caused you harm.The post Why car accident injury victims should stay off of social media first appeared on Oakley & Oakley, LLC.