Law enforcement, attorneys and legal experts tout the importance of documentation after an accident.
However, it is important to remember that accident investigators can use anything related to the crash against you during a claims dispute.
Your words may betray you
If you use TikTok, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to express yourself, you may turn to your online sounding board for validation during times of high stress. After a car crash, your thoughts and emotions may be erratic, and you may make inflammatory statements or admit partial fault without meaning to do so.
Photos and videos may become evidence
When you make a personal injury claim against the at-fault party’s insurance policy, you can be certain that their accident investigators will search for reasons to minimize their payout. If you post dancing videos or film a weekly cooking show for your social media fans, an adjuster may accuse you of exaggerating your injury and refuse to compensate you for your pain and suffering. This may be a problem for you even if you filmed your posts days or weeks before the crash.
You cannot erase the internet
When you post impulsively online, you run the risk of heavy scrutiny. You may regret certain posts later, but even when you delete or edit your content, you may not be able to scrub it completely. IT experts, law enforcement and legal professionals may retrieve your social media details and use your online ramblings to discredit you if your case goes to court.
Documenting the details of the scene is essential in the aftermath of a vehicle accident, but it may be better to keep those details offline and share them only with your insurance company and/or legal representative.