Car accidents are traumatic events. If you’ve been hurt by a negligent or reckless driver, you may want to vent. You may be tempted to turn to social media to get support or even raise awareness about reckless driving. Seeking support is natural and raising awareness is laudable under the most circumstances. However, you can put your car accident case in jeopardy.

The information you post on Facebook or Instagram could cause you to lose out on compensation. Read on if you want to avoid costly mistakes following a car accident in Phoenix, AZ.

Things Your Car Accident Lawyer in Phoenix Will Advise You About Following an Accident

If you get into an accident in Phoenix, AZ, you need to call a lawyer as soon as is practicable. They will guide you on what you should and should not say, regardless of the medium. Here are some of the things your attorney will make sure you are aware of.

Your Comments May be Seen as Admission of Fault

In the immediate aftermath of an accident, emotions are running high. You may be tempted to apologize even if you did nothing wrong. Unfortunately, a “simple” tweet or Facebook status can harm your case. Even if you delete it, someone may have already taken a screenshot.

The other driver’s insurance company will comb through your social media profiles looking for any reason to deny your claim. Even a post saying “I didn’t see them coming” could be seen as you admitting fault. Arizona follows comparative negligence laws. This means your damages will be reduced by the percentage by which you are believed to be at fault.

Your Posts May Undermine Lawyer-Client Confidentiality

There are certain things you should only discuss with your attorney. You wouldn’t willingly share them with the other driver’s insurer or lawyer unless it was necessary. When you post on social media, the defendant could get information they wouldn’t otherwise have.

These details include:

• Your mental and emotional state
• Your physical health
• All the details of the crash
• Your medical conditions

You can be sure that the other side will use any information they get against you.

Your Photos May Make Insurers Question Whether You Are Really Injured

Recovering from a car accident can be both physically and mentally taxing. However, you won’t spend every single moment in bed unless you are severely incapacitated. Taking part in social activities may even help your emotional state. However, insurers will not interpret your actions in that way.

If you post photos of yourself out at a concert seemingly having a good time, they may use it against you. Maybe you were only out for a few minutes before the pain became too much. However, it won’t matter to them. They will use the photo as evidence that you are exaggerating or faking your injuries.

Simply Being Too Active on Social Media May Hurt Your Case

You may think that you are in the clear if you don’t post about the accident. You may think there’s nothing questionable on your pages if you don’t post videos of you dancing. However, you may be commenting on all your friends’ baby pictures or sharing lots of news stories. Insurance companies could use this to argue that you are not really injured. If you were, you wouldn’t have the ability or energy to be posting so much.

It may seem like a stretch. However, insurance companies really don’t like to pay out claims when they don’t have to. It won’t matter if you only posted between severe bouts of pain. Insurance companies won’t care if baby photos were the only thing which kept your spirits up. That is why your car accident attorney in Phoenix, AZ would advise you to stay away from social media.

Contact an Arizona Auto Accident Attorney As Soon As Possible After an Accident

Your lawyer will stress the importance of staying off of social media after an accident. It may seem like an overreaction but you can’t be too careful if you hope to get full compensation. A few moments of venting aren’t worth the financial costs. Instead, work with your attorney to build your case and get damages.If you get into an accident, contact the Phoenix car accident attorneys at Warnock MacKinlay. They will guide you from the moment you call them up until they secure a settlement. You don’t want to navigate the aftermath of a car accident alone. If your social media posts have already caused problems, still call an attorney and see how they can help you.