For many people, social media is a convenient space to broadcast thoughts and updates. As a result, you might want to post about your injuries, recovery, or frustration after a car accident.
However, those posts can have serious consequences for an injury claim because insurance companies and investigators search them for information that contradicts your case. Even deleting posts may not fully protect you and could sometimes make things worse.
How deleting posts can help your case
Deleting certain posts can prevent investigators from misinterpreting your words or photos. If you posted something that somehow makes your injuries seem less serious, removing it might stop insurance companies from using it against you. Old posts that show risky behavior, like reckless driving or dangerous hobbies, could also become evidence to argue that you are a careless person. Deleting them before they become a problem could be a smart move.
Privacy is another reason to remove posts. Someone could view something you said online and take it out of context. The opposing side may even twist an innocent status update to make it look like your injuries are not as bad as you claim. Keeping your social media clean and private can help prevent unwanted scrutiny.
How deleting posts can hurt your case
On the other hand, deleting posts after an accident can sometimes cause problems. Investigators may still be able to find deleted posts through screenshots or archived data. If they see that you removed something, they might assume you had something to hide and then dig deeper into your past.
Deleting posts can also lead to accusations of destroying evidence. In New Jersey, defendants in civil cases can request a plaintiff’s private social media accounts as evidence in discovery. If the court is already reviewing your case, removing posts might raise suspicion. Courts may view deleted social media content as an attempt to mislead investigators, harming your credibility and damaging your case.
To avoid social media problems after an accident, be careful about what you share. If you have already posted something, deleting it may or may not help. Instead of guessing, consider taking a break from social media and focusing on your claim until your case is over. What you post online can impact your claim, so it’s often better to be safe than sorry.