Statistically, if you’re a regular driver, you’re likely to be in a car wreck at least once in your life. While most collisions are minor fender benders, some wrecks can be devastating. If you were seriously injured in a crash, turn to our Artesia car accident attorneys to discuss your options. 

You may be able to recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost earnings, and other losses by filing a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. At HPIL, we have decades of combined experience handling accident cases throughout California. Reach us at 1-800-GO-HARRIS to request a free consultation. 

Can I Use Social Media While My Claim Is Pending? 

In the aftermath of a serious car wreck, you may be tempted to vent your frustrations on social media. However, this short-term release could give you long-term headaches when it comes time to seek compensation for your damages. 

The insurance company may monitor your social media profiles for any posts, pictures, comments, or “check ins” that could be used as evidence to dispute your claim. In most situations, it’s best to deactivate your social media accounts until your case has concluded.  

However, if you’re unable to take this step, follow these tips next time you go online: 

• Screen New Connection Requests: A friend request might seem harmless, but as long as your claim is pending, that next invitation to connect could be a Trojan horse. If you’ve updated your privacy settings, someone working for the insurer might send you a connection request to gain access to your feeds. As such, you should not approve new requests from people you don’t recognize until your case has been resolved. 

• Never Discuss the Accident Online: Posting about the wreck, your injuries, your claim, your expenses, and even your social activities could open the door to disputes. For instance, your comments about the accident might be misrepresented by the insurer to challenge your credibility.  

• Do Not Post Pictures of Yourself: Recovering from a serious injury can be a long, painful, and challenging journey. However, even in these testing times, there may be a few better moments. It’s only natural to want to take a picture to preserve these memories and share these snapshots with your friends and family online. However, even seemingly innocent pictures could be used to dispute aspects of your claim. For instance, photographs of you enjoying a day out at the park with your family could be used to argue that your injuries are not as serious as your attorney is claiming, or that you ignored your doctor’s orders to rest. As such, you should not post pictures online until your case has concluded. 

What Evidence Could Help Prove Pain and Suffering? 

In California, personal injury victims have a right to seek compensation for pain and suffering. While these damages are not available in every accident case, they may be recoverable if you can prove that you have endured serious emotional stress, physical pain, and mental trauma due to the injuries you suffered in the wreck.  

However, proving these losses is no simple task. Unlike your medical expenses and repair costs which can be demonstrated with bills and receipts, there are no invoices for the psychological effects of your condition. As such, your attorney might have to employ many different types of evidence to prove that you should be awarded pain and suffering damages, such as: 

• Testimony from a Psychologist: It’s not uncommon for accident victims to experience depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and adjustment disorders. However, the insurer will likely refuse to pay out for the necessary medications and therapy unless you can present concrete evidence of these psychological effects. A psychologist can provide testimony regarding your symptoms and how they’ve affected your everyday life. 

• Medical Documentation: Scans, diagnostic images, and other medical documents can help illustrate the severity of your injuries. 

• Personal Injury Journal Entries: If you have been tracking your pain levels and documenting your limitations in a personal injury journal, these entries could help your attorney build a case for non-economic damages.  

• Pictures of Your Injuries: There are many types of injuries that are so serious that they inevitably lead to at least some degree of pain and suffering. While this almost always applies in cases involving scarring, disfigurement, amputation, or long-term disabilities; temporary injuries such as broken bones and burn wounds can also cause considerable agony. Your attorney may use pictures of your injuries taken immediately after the accident and throughout your recovery to demonstrate their severity. 

Discuss Your Claim With an Artesia Car Accident Attorney 

While car accidents are commonplace on our roads, the consequences are rarely routine. If you or someone close to you was injured in a car wreck, turn to the legal team at Harris Personal Injury Lawyers.  

From the moment you pick up the phone, we will treat you and your family with compassion, professionalism, and respect. Dial 1-800-GO-HARRIS or click through to our online contact form HERE to request a free case assessment.