Seal Beach Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

If you were hurt in a motorbike crash, turn to Harris Personal Injury Lawyers for representation. Our motorcycle accident attorneys in Seal Beach can help you take on the insurance company and fight for a fair settlement. These collisions tend to result in devastating injuries. You can trust our team to account for all the damages you may be owed and to provide comprehensive representation through every step of the proceedings. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS for a free case review.

Can I Use Social Media While My Claim Is Pending?

In the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, you may be feeling scared, stressed, and in desperate need of guidance and support. It’s in these difficult times that many people turn to social media to connect with loved ones and others in their circles. However, posting about the accident, your injuries, or the claim online could be a crucial mistake that costs you a fair settlement. It’s not uncommon for claims adjusters to monitor accident victims’ social media profiles for any comments, pictures, or status updates that could be used to deny or reduce their claims. Our Seal Beach motorcycle accident lawyers advise you to disable your social media accounts until your case has concluded. However, if this isn’t possible, below are a few steps you can take to protect your case the next time you go online:

• Ignore New Connection Requests: A new follow request or friend invite might look harmless, but if you don’t recognize the face behind this unexpected invitation, it’s best to ignore it. It’s not uncommon for individuals hired by the insurance company to try to connect with a claimant on social media in an effort to gain access to their posts and other online activity. Hit “accept” and you might be giving an opposing party free rein to comb through your posts and dig up evidence to dispute your claim.

• Stop Posting Pictures of Yourself: Recovering from a serious injury is an arduous journey. While most of your days might be spent gritting your teeth against the pain, there may still be a few happier times. In these moments, it’s only natural to reach for your phone and snap a few pictures for your social media pages. However, even photos of you doing everyday activities could harm your case. The insurance company may use such posts to argue that you ignored your doctor’s instructions to rest or that your injuries are not very serious. As such, you should abstain from publishing any photos of yourself until your claim is resolved.

• Request That Friends and Family Do Not Tag You in Pictures: Just as your own pictures could jeopardize your case, so could those taken by others in your circles. The insurance company and other opposing parties may resort to monitoring your friends’ and family’s accounts as part of their search for any evidence that could be used to undermine your case. You should ask your loved ones to abstain from tagging you in pictures online. On sites such as Facebook, you can also change your settings to opt out of tagging altogether or approve or deny tags as pictures are published.

• Double Down on Your Privacy Settings: From Facebook to Instagram to Twitter, most social media sites now allow you to set your accounts to “private.” When this setting is activated, only you and those in your circles can see what you post. While this will prevent the claims adjuster from poring through your frontpage, someone could still screenshot your posts and share them with an opposing party. As such, you should never discuss the details of your case online.

What Are Signs That I Have a Strong Motorcycle Accident Case?

In theory, filing a claim for a serious injury should be a straightforward process. After all, if another party is at fault and you can prove your damages, why should you not receive a fair settlement to cover your accident-related expenses? Unfortunately, the insurance company may be reluctant to pay out your claim, particularly if you are seeking a significant amount. As a result, they may leave no stone unturned to find evidence that could be used to reduce or deny the value of your settlement. However, if you build your case on a strong foundation, it’s far more likely to stand up to scrutiny during negotiations and litigation. Below are a few common elements of a convincing claim:

• You Sought Prompt Medical Care: Seeking medical treatment as soon as you can after an accident won’t just help expedite your recovery, but it may also mitigate disputes. For instance, if you delayed your medical evaluation or skipped it entirely, the insurance company may assert that your injuries can’t be that serious if you didn’t require urgent care.
• You Followed Your Doctor’s Orders: As someone filing a personal injury claim, you have a duty to take reasonable steps to mitigate damages. Simply put, you should do everything you can to aid your recovery and avoid exacerbating your injuries.
• You Have Strong Evidence: In a personal injury case, you will need to prove liability, causation, and damages. While your lawyer will conduct their own investigation and compile any evidence that could support your case, any information you can provide during your initial consultation could improve your chances of obtaining a financial award. For instance, if you spotted surveillance cameras near the scene of the accident, it’s possible they may have captured footage of the moment you suffered your injury. Or, if you spoke to any eyewitnesses, you should take down their contact details to share with your attorney during your initial consultation.

Speak with a Seal Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

You can reach us at 1-800-GO-HARRIS or send us an email to set up a free case review. All consultations are confidential.