Beware don’t get Caught Out
Introduction
Social media is used by insurance companies to detect fraud in a number of ways. Here are a few examples:
- Identifying inconsistencies: Insurance companies can use social media to identify inconsistencies between a claimant’s story and their social media posts. For example, if a claimant claims to have been injured in a car accident, but their social media posts show them going out dancing or in sports activities after the accident, this could be a red flag for fraud.
- Finding evidence of staged events: Insurance companies can also use social media to find evidence that an event was staged, such as a car accident or a home burglary. For example, if a claimant posts a photo of their car that appears to have been in an accident, but there are no other signs of damage to the car or the surrounding area, this could be a sign that the accident was staged.
- Identifying suspicious activity: Insurance companies can also use social media to identify suspicious activity, such as people who are repeatedly making claims or who are claiming for large amounts of money.
By using social media, insurance companies can identify and investigate fraudulent claims more quickly and easily.
Caution: Limit Social Media Use after an Accident
Here are some tips for avoiding having your claim denied based on social media posts:
- Be careful about what you post on social media. Remember that anything you post online can be used against you.
- Be honest when making a claim. Don’t exaggerate your injuries or losses.
- Be cooperative with the insurance company’s investigation. Answer their questions honestly and promptly.
- Get legal help if you think your claim is being denied unfairly. An experienced attorney can help you understand your rights and fight for the benefits you deserve.
Case Example: Claim shown as Fraud by Social Media
This case is a good example of how the Insurance Company will use your Social Media posts to try and show you are lying or exaggerating your claim to leave you with a failed claim and also possibly facing a legal bill.
A man claiming a £22,000 compensation after back injuries was caught out after he posted photos of himself hanging upside down from a zipwire on holiday in Mexico.
Ferenc Kirinovits, 45, said he suffered whiplash injuries after a car accident and a prolapsed disc when a car drove into the back of his vehicle. He claimed £22,000 compensation for the injuries which required surgery in 2019.
Social media photos taken just six months before the surgery show the claimant hanging upside down on a rope, riding a quad bike and jumping off a cliff into a river while on holiday with his wife in Mexico.
He was ordered to pay insurance company AXA UK’s £12,000 legal bill.
The Insurance Company who saved all their money and were happy to defeat the claim said: “Trying to fake injuries over a prolonged period is much more difficult in today’s connected world.
The Insurance company also revealed their tactics in destroying Claimants claims and how they do it “With so much social media, CCTV and the ability to easily take surveillance footage, our investigators have a rich seam of evidence to disprove fraudulently exaggerated accounts like that made by Mr Kirinovits.”
The Claimant said the whiplash injury had caused a prolapsed disc that stopped working for three months. He also alleged it stopped him from starting a new job and could not clean, garden, go to the gym, play football or swim.
Insurance company Solicitors working on behalf of AXA UK, discovered social media posts showing an active person with very different physical abilities to that of the injured man.
The Insurance company searched, tracked and found social media posts from a Mexico holiday that show him hanging upside down from a rope, zip lining and climbing ropes and ladders. The Claimants Solicitors had not advised him not to post on social media and to be careful to ensure he only pursued genuine injury.
District Judge Jacqueline Raggett stated there was no proof that his injuries and surgery were related to the Car accident, due to the Social Media Posts made by the Claimant.
Judge Raggett ruled the claim as “fundamentally dishonest” and was ordered to repay AXA UK their legal costs, estimated at £12,000.
Conclusion
At Claim Today we realise the claim time can go on for a long period and Social Media has become a part of our daily lives.
We can ensure you do not get caught out by the insurance company using social media posts showing activity when claiming for an injury by:
- Educating you about the risks of social media posts. Claim Today will explain to you how insurance companies can use social media posts to undermine your claim, and they will help you to develop a social media strategy that will protect your interests.
- Monitoring your social media accounts. Claim Today may agree to monitor your social media accounts on a regular basis to make sure that you are not posting anything that could jeopardise your claim.
- Negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf. If the insurance company tries to use your social media posts against you, Claim Today will be able to negotiate with them to try to get the posts excluded from evidence.
- Representing you in court. If the insurance company does not agree to settle your claim, Claim Today will represent you in court and fight to protect your rights.
Here are some tips for using social media safely after an accident:
- Limit your activity on social media. The less you post, the less the insurance company will have to work with.
- Be careful about what you post. Avoid posting anything that could be seen as inconsistent with your claim, such as pictures of you engaging in activities that you say you are unable to do due to your injuries.
- Set your privacy settings to private. This will make it more difficult for the insurance company to access your posts.
- Ask your friends and family to be careful about what they post. Remind them not to post anything about your accident or injuries on social media.
- Talk to Claim Today about your social media use. Claim Today can give you specific advice about how to use social media safely after an accident.
Claim Today protecting our Clients right to Genuine and Lawful Injury Claims
Call 0800 29 800 29
Email : info@claimtoday.com
Whatsapp +44 7901 558 530
