#7 MISTAKE: Posting information about your car accident on social media.

QUESTION: Should I post on social media if I’ve been injured in a car accident?

ANSWER: There is nothing wrong with sharing general information with your friends and family through social media. Keep your statements and comments general and not too frequent — avoid photos and videos of yourself doing activities. Adjusters will look at your social media to find photos and things you’ve said to use against you in your claim.

The seventh biggest mistake you can make is posting information about your car accident on social media. We see most of our clients posting on Facebook and Instagram, and they’re not always mindful about what they post about their accident.

The reason why posting on social media can be a big mistake is that often the adjuster for the insurance company will go on to your social media pages looking for things you have said or activities that you’ve done that they see as inconsistent with your injuries. The adjuster will mischaracterize the information you are posting and twist it in a way that supports their position on your claim.

So, we’re not saying, “Never post on Facebook and never post on Instagram.” What we are saying is be very careful about what you do post. It’s fine to share a little information, letting people know that you are getting the medical treatment you need, but don’t post about the ups and downs of your recovery, or how frustrated you might be at the person who caused the collision.

If you want to share more details about your accident with your family and friends — the best thing to do is pick up the phone and call them. The most important thing is don’t give the insurance company ammunition to twist information that can be used against you.

Go ahead and post, but keep it short and not very often. Know that the insurance adjuster could well be looking at your social media pages to use your posts and comments against you.