SILENCE IS GOLDEN | DEALING WITH POLICE | ADJUSTERS | SOCIAL MEDIA

One of the most damaging mistakes accident victims make is talking too much: to insurance adjusters, investigators, police, or even on social media. Remember: Silence is golden and it is NOT what’s said, but what they thought you said.

Insurance adjusters are highly trained professionals, whose job is to reduce payouts. They often call victims within hours of an accident, sounding friendly and supportive. But every question is designed to gather information that can be used against you. If you casually say you are “feeling okay” or “getting better,” they may record that as proof you were not seriously injured. If you describe the accident without precision, they may misinterpret or misquote you. Once a statement is in their notes, it becomes difficult to challenge later.

That’s why Dale Gribow’s advice is simple: do not talk to anyone without permission. If contacted, politely explain that your attorney instructed you not to discuss the matter without his/her ok. Ask for their info so that your attorney can call them, and provide our info: 760-837-7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com. By doing this, you remain the “good guy,” while your lawyer becomes the barrier protecting you from harassment.

Equally dangerous is social media. Insurance companies routinely monitor Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms, for posts that can be twisted against you. A picture of you smiling at a barbecue, dancing at a wedding, playing golf, or carrying groceries—even while in pain—can be presented as evidence, that your injuries are exaggerated. Innocent posts such as “I was late to golf because of the accident,” may be used to argue you were not seriously hurt.

In fact, adjusters sometimes contact your friends through social media, asking innocent-sounding questions. Without realizing it, friends may confirm your tennis, pickle ball, golf, activities that undermine your claim.

The best practice is to suspend or lock down your accounts until your case is resolved. If you cannot, avoid posting anything about your health, activities, or lifestyle. Even private messages may be subpoenaed in litigation.

Insurance companies may also attempt to catch you in compromising situations. Property damage adjusters have been known to ask victims to point to dents on a vehicle, then snap a photo of the person bending and smiling when they say, smile… right before the pix. This evidence is later used to argue you were not injured. Similarly, casual comments like “I’ll be fine” are recorded as admissions.

Your credibility is the foundation of your case. Once it is damaged, recovery becomes much harder. Silence, therefore, is not avoidance—it’s protection.

The bottom line: let your attorney handle all communication, keep your personal life private, and resist the urge to share online. What you don’t say can never be twisted against you.