News travels fast in New York City. Anyone who has lived here long enough is well aware of that, so after a crash, grabbing your phone and telling the world you’re “okay” can feel comforting. You just want to shake off those nerves. However, that quick post, that story, or even that little heart emoji under someone’s comment can come back to bite you hard.
The best car accident lawyer in NYC will say that injured New Yorkers often sabotage their own claims without meaning to, and it’s almost always tied to what they share online. Let’s talk through the biggest mistakes people make and how you can avoid falling into the same traps.
Mistake #1: Posting Photos of the Crash Scene
We’ve all seen those dramatic crash-scene pictures. Bent fenders, broken glass, maybe a fire truck or two in the background. It feels normal and natural to post proof of what you just went through.
But insurers look at those photos with a very different mindset. A picture taken from the wrong angle might suggest the damage wasn’t as bad as it felt. A caption like “I’m fine, just shaken up” can be twisted to show that you’re not really injured at all. Even the lighting can skew someone’s interpretation of how severe a crash was.
A New York car accident lawyer will almost always tell clients to take photos for evidence, but to keep them off social platforms. Private camera rolls are helpful. Public posts can be used as ammunition by the other side.
Mistake #2: Sharing Personal Updates That Contradict Injury Claims
You might try to maintain some kind of normalcy after a crash. Maybe you thought you’d go out for a friend’s birthday, where someone snaps a photo and tags you in their story. To the oblivious viewer, you would appear perfectly healthy because that single moment doesn’t show the pain that hits you later that night or the physical therapy appointment you have to attend the next morning.
Insurance adjusters take advantage of these moments. You could post something seemingly harmless, like a short walk you took or a photo at a bar where you didn’t even drink, and that can very well be misread. There’s also what you say in your caption. “I’ll feel better soon” is just meant to reassure your friends, but can be used against you.
Pain after a crash fluctuates, and recovery from it isn’t linear. Social media tends to freeze these moments without ever revealing the full story.
Mistake #3: Discussing the Accident or Legal Case Online
You might be tempted to write a long post explaining what happened since your friends keep flooding your DMs. But recounting the crash before speaking with an attorney can easily complicate your case. You might say something like “Maybe I braked too late” or “I didn’t see the other driver,” not realizing how those statements can be twisted.
Even expressing anger or frustration can be misconstrued as admitting fault.
If you’re working with the best car accident lawyer in NYC, they’d probably shake their head reading most of the things people share in the first few days after an accident. Legal cases don’t mix well with public commentary. Once something’s out there, screenshots can keep it alive forever.
Mistake #4: Accepting New Friend Requests or Followers After a Crash
You might think that this is slightly paranoid, but you have to be cautious. Insurance investigators have been known to create fake profiles just to keep track of crash victims’ online activity. A “new follower” with no posts who sends you a friend request might very well be someone out to take advantage of what you post.
If your profile is public, they don’t even need to follow you. They can just quietly scroll through your photos and stories, looking for anything to weaken your claim, which brings us to the next mistake.
Mistake #5: Not Adjusting Privacy Settings Immediately
Many New Yorkers keep their profiles wide open with Instagram stories and TikTok videos visible to everyone.
A few quick changes can help, such as:
- Switching to private for the time being
- Limiting tagging
- Restricting past posts
- Turning off location sharing
It won’t shield everything since nothing online can truly be hidden, but it does give you some level of protection.
So What Should Crash Victims Do Instead?
First, take a breath. Don’t post for a while. Ask friends not to tag you and maybe even mute some apps if you’re the kind of person who reaches for your phone automatically.
Focus on your medical appointments. Keep track of symptoms. Talk to a lawyer before putting anything online. Remember, you want to think defensively, not performatively.
Conclusion
Social media can be helpful in many moments of life, but after a crash, one wrong move can bring you down.
If you’ve been hurt, give yourself space to heal and get guidance from someone who understands accident law in New York. The city may be loud and fast, but your claim deserves quiet, thoughtful handling.
