Some people will post everything from their morning latte to their new haircut on social media. It is part of our everyday lives, not just for the mundane but also when life’s big events occur. Therefore, many may be tempted to whip out their phone to snap a few pictures of an event that has shaken them to the core — a car crash.
Car accidents are stressful and full of unknowns. It may be cathartic to seek sympathy after such an event, and you may have even been told by well-meaning individuals to document the accident scene, your injuries, etc. However, there is one reason why you might want to avoid posting details about your car crash on social media.
Should I avoid social media following a car crash?
Understand that following a car crash there is the serious possibility that you will want to file a legal claim against the person who hit you. However, in doing so you will need to prove fault showing the other party caused the accident that led to your injuries.
Taking pictures of the accident scene and your injuries may be good for your attorney to view, but if you post other pictures or make statements on social media that contradict what you want to say in court, you run the risk of jeopardizing your case. Even a mere “sorry” can imply fault, and a picture of you at a party when you want to say in court that you are too injured to work can hurt your case.
Be careful what you say and do online
Ultimately, it pays to be careful what you say and do online following a car crash if you intend on suing the person who hit you. When filing a personal injury claim based on negligence, you need to show fault meaning that the other party owed you a duty that was breached and this breach both proximately and actually caused your injuries. Careless statements or contradictory pictures posted online can weaken this argument.
However, before taking any legal action it is important to seek the advice of an attorney, which this post does not provide. Attorneys in the Roanoke area understand that car accidents can be a traumatic experience and can advise on what steps to take following one.
