Across the country, commuters rely on rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft to get around. While getting a ride is as easy as tapping a button, recovering compensation after an accident isn’t nearly as simple. If you were injured in a rideshare wreck, it may be in your best interests to speak to our Carson Uber and Lyft accident attorneys. 

Our team is available to take your calls 24/7. Dial 1-800-GO-HARRIS to secure a free initial consultation. 

Can I Use Social Media While My Personal Injury Claim Is Pending? 

For many of us, social media is a part of our everyday lives. It’s where we go to celebrate life’s highlights, lowlights, and everything in between. As such, after a serious wreck, this may be one of the first places you turn to share the grisly details of this harrowing experience.  

However, before you hit the “publish” button, you need to consider the potential consequences for posting about the accident. Insurance companies routinely monitor claimants’ social media feeds to find evidence that could be used to dispute claims.  

In most situations, it’s best to deactivate your social media profiles for the duration of proceedings. However, if this isn’t possible for you, here are a few steps you can take to protect your claim next time you go online: 

• Ramp Up Your Privacy Settings: If your account is public, it will be relatively easy for the insurer and other opposing parties to keep tabs on your online activity. However, most social media sites provide the option to upgrade your privacy settings so that you can limit who can—and can’t—see your posts. You should check your options to ensure that only approved friends or followers can view your feed.  

• Screen New Friend Requests Carefully: Once you’ve updated your privacy settings, someone working for the insurance company may attempt to send you a friend or follow request to gain access to your page. As such, if you receive an invitation to connect from someone you don’t recognize, you should not approve such requests until your case has been resolved. 

• Do Not Post Pictures Online: Any images you upload on social media could be used as evidence to challenge your credibility. For instance, snapshots of you out at the park or enjoying lunch at a restaurant with your family just a few days after the wreck could give opposing parties ammunition to assert that your injuries aren’t as serious as you are claiming, or that you ignored your healthcare provider’s instructions to rest. In addition to abstaining from uploading pictures, you should ask your friends and family to avoid tagging you in their own photographs for the duration of proceedings. 

• Do Not Discuss the Accident on Social Media: Even if you’re a strong writer, claims adjusters are adept at leveraging ambiguous sentences to their advantage. As such, you should never discuss anything related to the accident, your claim, your injuries, your expenses, and your social activities on social media until your case has concluded.  

How the Attorneys at HPIL Could Assist with Your Case 

Filing a personal injury claim can be a daunting undertaking. After all, this is likely the first time you’ve had to take legal action after suffering injuries in a wreck, so it’s only natural to feel completely out of your depth. 

Fortunately, a skilled personal injury lawyer can help guide you through the challenging days ahead, helping you build a convincing case and representing you throughout proceedings. Let’s look at a few ways the lawyers at HPIL might be able to assist with your case: 

• Approximate a Fair Settlement: Insurers make money based on this basic principle: Take in more money in premiums than you pay out in settlements for claims. As such, insurance adjusters are incentivized to undervalue cases. To avoid accepting an unfavorable settlement offer, you should make sure that you have a clear idea of how much your claim might be worth. At HPIL, we can assess your situation, review the available evidence, and consult with expert witnesses if necessary to help estimate fair compensation for your damages. 

• Represent You Throughout Proceedings: Whether it’s overseeing negotiations with the insurer or litigating your case, our legal team is with you every step of the way. We strive to answer calls, texts, and emails promptly, and will take time to provide updates on your case and explain your role at each stage of proceedings. 

• Handle Correspondence with the Insurer: Anything you say to the insurance company could be used as evidence to challenge your credibility. Fortunately, our attorneys can handle dialogue with the claims adjuster and other parties so you don’t have to worry about saying something that might hurt your claim. 

Speak to a Carson Uber and Lyft Accident Attorney Today 

If you were hurt in a wreck involving a rideshare driver—either as another motorist or passenger—you may be able to recover compensation from the liable parties. At HPIL, we know what it takes to succeed in even the most complex cases; we’ve helped recover more than $300 million in settlements and verdicts for injury victims throughout California. Call us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS or tap through to our Online Contact Form to request a free case review.