The Importance of Taking Pictures After a Car Accident
Car accidents can be extremely scary and serious, causing immense injury to those involved. Many of these accidents will ultimately lead to a personal injury claim to prove liability. This is why photographs are so important, because they can assign liability from the very beginning. Pictures are usually not subject to interpretation and will tell a story from start to finish. This is why you should always have photographic evidence for your case.
Should You Take Photographs of the Scene Before All Else?
No, when an accident happens, the first thing to do is to check and make sure that everybody involved is safe and uninjured. If there are any injuries, you should always call 911 immediately. After you have checked to make sure that everybody else is okay, then it is a good time to take photographs of the accident scene. Photographs are extremely important due to the fact that you can use these photos to convince the insurance company of the insured’s negligence. These photos tell a story of how events progressed, give graphic evidence of property damage and injuries, and help piece together important details.
One thing to keep in mind before taking photographs is that the quality of the camera matters. If you have a cell phone with you that takes extremely blurry and inconsistent photos, it may not be in your best interest to use that at the time of the accident. This is why it is always a good idea to carry with you a camera that can provide you with images of great quality.
Taking the Most Effective Pictures
Remember: Taking many pictures from various views may be your best bet at getting the results you want. However, there are also some tips you should keep in mind when photographing an accident scene. Here are some of those:
- Take general photos of the entire scene, which include many wide shots from several angles. You can worry about the details later.
- Always include other cars or vehicles involved in the accident. You should photograph their proximity to the accident spot and demonstrate their position at the time the accident occurred.
- Photograph all weather conditions. Include clouds, rain, or snow. If the at-fault driver claims that the accident only happened because of an icy road and photographs disprove that, it will work out to your benefit.
- Get many close-ups of your car’s damage. You should photograph every damage incident and also license plates to indicate that it is actually your vehicle.
- Snap some photos of participants in the accident. You should also include witness photos. This will allow you to have visual record of the people at the scene so that you can connect faces with statements.
Can I Photograph Injuries?
Always take pictures of injuries on yourself and others involved in the accident. Victims from the other vehicle may not be forthcoming about allowing you to take photos of them, so you will not be able to legally force them to. However, you should always take pictures of as much as you can, relating to the scene. If there has been a fatality, you should probably not take pictures of it because it could be seen as “insensitive and inappropriate.” The police and coroner’s office will have photos that can be accessed by the court and insurance company.
Have you been involved in a car accident and wonder where to turn next? Taking photographs serve as good evidence that could help you immensely in regards to your case. However, if you have sustained injuries and will have your day in court, it is probably a good idea to speak to an attorney that you can trust. Call Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi today to find out what options you have.
