Social Media After an Accident — What NOT to Post

Think Before You Post: Social Media and Your Injury Claim

Social media can feel like a natural outlet when something major happens—like a car accident or injury. You might want to share updates with friends, post a picture of your recovery, or simply vent about your experience. But when you're pursuing a personal injury claim, what you post online can be used against you—by insurance adjusters, defense lawyers, or even jurors.

In Colorado and beyond, your social media activity is not private, and it can have real consequences for your case.

How Social Media Can Hurt Your Injury Claim

Insurance companies are always looking for ways to reduce or deny your claim. One tactic they frequently use is digging into your digital footprint. Here’s how that might play out:

1. Posts Contradicting Your Injuries
You say your back is injured, but you post a photo hiking, dancing, or even smiling at a family event. The defense may argue that your injury isn’t as serious as you claim.

2. Comments That Imply Fault
Even saying something like “I didn’t see them coming” or “It happened so fast”might be twisted into an admission of partial fault.

3. Location Check-Ins
If you’re attending events or traveling while claiming serious injuries, adjusters may use that as evidence that you’re not as hurt as you report.

4. Conversations in Comments
Even replies to friends asking how you're doing can be used to imply you’re recovering better than you’ve told your doctor or attorney.

What Not to Post After an Accident

To protect your claim, follow these basic social media do-nots:

• Don’t post photos or videos of yourself.
• Don’t talk about the accident, your injuries, or recovery process.
• Don’t share details about the claim or lawsuit.
• Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know.
• Don’t comment on public news articles or posts about the accident.

Do You Need to Delete Old Posts?

You should not delete past content once a claim has been filed—it can be seen as destruction of evidence. Instead, adjust your privacy settings and talk to your attorney about how to handle existing content.

What You Should Do on Social Media

• Set all accounts to private. This won’t guarantee protection, but it adds a layer of security.
• Tell friends and family not to tag or mention you.
• Pause posting until your case is resolved.
• Let your attorney review anything questionable.

The Bottom Line

Social media is public—even if your settings say otherwise. Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys may monitor your accounts from the day your claim is filed. At Chris Parks Law, we help injury victims throughout Colorado protect their rights, and that includes digital guidance.

If you’ve been injured, contact us before you post. We’ll help you avoid mistakes that could cost you the compensation you deserve.

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