Using Facebook to Gather Information about Auto Insurance Claims

In today's day and age, Facebook has become a way of life. It is estimated that for everyone in the United States with internet access, more than 80% have a Facebook account. However, consumers are increasingly concerned because they believe that their insurance companies may be using their private Facebook posts to investigate claims. Can this really happen? The answer is maybe, and here's how:

Using Social Media for Your Protection 

One of the reasons why insurance companies are beginning to turn to social media sites like Facebook is because people often have more vivid memories of an accident immediately after it happens rather than several days or weeks down the road. Experts in the field now claim that it is wise to take photos of the scene and upload them to Facebook along with a detailed (although respectful) account of what occurred. This way, in the event that there is ever any dispute later, the information is readily available for you to pull up and show to your agent. Insurance companies are almost twice as likely to check your social media sites if you have reported an accident-related injury, too. 

How Some Claims Are Denied 

However, there's another side to this story to consider, as well. Adjusters and agents will often look for the Facebook pages of individuals who have claimed bodily injury in an accident claim filed with their companies to see whether or not the claims are fraudulent. If someone says that they are unable to walk without significant pain due to the accident yet they post pictures of themselves golfing, skiing or performing other activities, then there is a very good chance that the claim will be denied because it was obviously fraudulent in nature. This mining is typically performed by special investigation units working for the insurance company, though third party investigators are sometimes hired, as well. 

Is This Legal?

Mining for information related to automobile accident claims is perfectly legal as long as the information gathered is part of a public profile. This means that if you have your account set to private and only people you have chosen to be 'friends' with can see your information, then they cannot breach that privacy in order to gain access to your information without breaking the law. However, an insurance adjuster absolutely can use information that is found on your friends' Facebook pages as long as they have permission from the account holder. Although some people complain that this is unethical, it is perfectly legal as long as your 'friends' give the okay. 

Protecting Yourself 

Of course, the best thing that you can possibly do to protect yourself in the event that you are involved in an accident is to avoid filing a fraudulent claim. With all of today's technology, you probably won't be able to get it past the specialists who know how to do their research. Other than this, if you are in an accident, you can post photos and an account of what happened for your own records. However, it is probably best if you avoid any statements or comments that could be considered disrespectful. The last thing that you can do to prevent unauthorized access to your personal information involves making sure that your Facebook account is set to 'private', keeping in mind that your profile picture and cover photo can still be viewed by anyone as if they were public. 

In a nutshell, while many consumers are upset and even angry that an insurance adjuster would access Facebook or other social media sites for the purpose of gathering information, if you play your cards right, this can only help you in the long run - if that person can even gain access to the information in the first place.