Did that last Tweet injure your injury claim?

Social Media. It’s everywhere. People are turning to the likes of Twitter and Facebook to vent about almost anything. However mundane it may seem, someone somewhere will read it. Of course these posts about how good the food was last night or how drunk you may have been at the pub, may cause embarrassment or just sheer boredom for others, however beware as insurance companies are very interested in what you’re doing.

Venting on social media is common practice. Many people are turning to the likes of Twitter or Facebook to describe a serious accident they’ve been in or inform relatives of their injury and progress. Unfortunately insurance companies are using this information to build evidence against them in personal injury claims.

It is common knowledge that insurance companies will access victims’ social media accounts to uncover evidence and discredit their injury claims.

For example, imagine you’ve fallen off a ladder at work or been in a road traffic accident, which has resulted in a serious back injury. You’ve had to stop working due to the pain as you cannot sit in front of a computer, and had to hire outside help to clean your house and prepare meals. Surely the medical records and bills associated will be evidence enough, right?

Wrong.

That Tweet of you standing outside your house sunning yourself could be used against you by an insurance company, saying that you are more mobile than you’re letting on. That Facebook post about that level you’ve just passed on the Xbox could be used against you too – an insurance company could discredit your claim by saying the pain due to your injury is obviously not that bad if you can concentrate on a screen for that long. Insurance companies may argue that if you can sit and look at a computer screen at home, you can obviously sit and look at a computer screen at work.

Furthermore, those ‘Rock Climbing’ groups or ‘Muscle Car’ exhibitions you’re a fan of on social media could suggest that you have a tendency to undertake high risk activities or enjoy speeding in fast cars, which could be used against you by insurance companies.

Unfortunately many insurance companies do their best to avoid paying out on claims, and will use social media posts against you if they can, taking things out of context.

Freeclaim Solicitors recommend that you not only ensure you have high security and privacy settings but also rethink any posts or photos that could relate to your injury or illness, or at least make an effort to remove any posts or information that may be used against you. Alastair Fernie, Managing Director advises, “The only way to ensure social media is not used against you in an injury claim is to shut down your social media profiles completely whilst the case is ongoing.”

For any further information on personal injury claims, contact Freeclaim Solicitors who have over 25 years’ experience helping accident victims get the compensation they deserve. Visit www.freeclaim.co.uk today for more information.

Contact Information

D Cobourne

SEO Executive

Hitsearch Limited

Contact via E-mail