The digital age has ushered in a new era of communication, helping us stay in touch from anywhere in the world. However, like many internet innovations, your privacy is never guaranteed. As such, there’s no telling who might see your Tweets, reels, posts, and pictures—something you should always keep in mind in the wake of a motorcycle wreck.

While you might be tempted to share the details of your traumatic experience online, this digital therapy could come at a serious cost. Insurance companies now monitor claimants’ social media feeds as part of their assessments, searching for any posts that could be leveraged for disputes.

You will need to be careful about what you publish online as anything—including videos and pictures—could be used by the insurer to reduce your payout. Ideally, it would be best if you deactivated your online profiles for the duration of the proceedings.

If this isn’t possible for you, we’ve compiled a few social media tips you should follow in the wake of a motorcycle wreck:

1. Ramp Up Your Privacy Settings

If you haven’t yet tinkered with your privacy options on sites such as Facebook or Twitter, it’s time to take a look under the hood. These social media platforms let you decide who can access your posts, giving you the tools to restrict this privilege to only approved friends and followers.

However, there are still ways for opposing parties to sidestep these settings. For instance, the claims adjuster might be able to view your posts via third-party connections. As a result, you should still avoid discussing anything related to the accident, your injuries, treatment, pending claim, social activities, and expenses.

2. Screen New Friend Requests Carefully

Once you’ve updated your privacy settings, you should be careful about which connection requests you approve. An opposing party might attempt to send you an invitation on social media in a bid to gain access to your feed.

Accepting such requests could give these parties free rein to comb through your posts at their own leisure. If you receive an invitation to connect from someone you don’t recognize, you should either ignore or deny this request.

3. Stop “Checking In.”

On Facebook, you have the option to “check-in” whenever you arrive at a new location. This feature lets you broadcast your whereabouts so your friends can follow your daily activities.

However, while your claim is pending, these updates will make it easy for opposing parties to keep track of what you’re doing, potentially giving them evidence to challenge your credibility. For instance, if your “check-ins” show you visiting a bar or showing up at a popular running route just a few days after the wreck, the insurance company may be able to use such information to assert that your injuries aren’t as serious as you are claiming.

Discuss Your Situation with a Las Vegas Motorcycle Attorney

Changing how you approach social media is one of many steps you might need to take to build a strong personal injury claim. At Maier Gutierrez & Associates, we can help you navigate proceedings, advising you of the actions you should take at every stage.

Our Nevada motorcycle accident attorneys are dedicated to helping victims seek justice after a wreck and will provide aggressive representation throughout. Dial 702-629-7900 or tap our contact form HERE to pencil in a free consultation.