Imagine that you are a juror reviewing evidence in a car accident case – and there is a lot of it. There is a police report, medical bills and reports, car repair estimates, and of course, the testimony of the two drivers, which, of course, conflict with each other. Now imagine one of them has a few dozen pictures and a video of the accident scene that aligns with her testimony. That juror’s job is now easier, right?
And it’s not just the juror. When you file your insurance claim, or consult with an attorney, having pictures and videos of the accident scene makes it easier for everyone to understand your side of the story and for them to recreate in their minds what happened at the scene. And what is the cost of that evidence? A few taps on your smartphone, which you’re probably already carrying in your pocket.
So should you take pictures and videos at the scene of your accident? Absolutely, so long as it is safe to do so.
Taking pictures of a car accident scene is one of the most important things you can do. Pictures provide the most accurate evidence of what happened, and they can be used to prove who was at fault for the accident. They also capture details that may not be included in an accident report, such as skid marks or debris in the roadway. By taking pictures of the scene, you can ensure that your case is presented accurately and backed up by tangible evidence.
Pictures are especially important if there were any witnesses or other drivers involved in the accident. These photos can help establish who was at fault and may prevent any conflicting stories from being told later on. Photos can also ensure that all damage is documented properly and fairly assessed when dealing with insurance companies or filing a lawsuit, if necessary.
Pictures can be a powerful tool in proving physical damage to vehicles in the aftermath of an accident. By providing visual evidence, photos can be used to demonstrate that specific damage occurred as a result of the crash, and not due to any preexisting conditions. This is especially important when dealing with insurance companies, as they may try to dispute certain damages if they are not photographed.
Pictures can help demonstrate the cause of an accident. For instance, skid marks on a roadway might help show that a vehicle was traveling too fast at the time of the crash or what actions a driver took to try to avoid the collision. Additionally, damage to the particular portion of a vehicle can point to a specific point of impact and provide useful information about how an accident occurred. Even the general placement of the vehicles after the crash might show their orientation at the point of impact and make it clearer how the collision occurred, such as a person running through a stop sign.
Photos can help provide evidence of the extent of injuries suffered in a crash and how much pain and suffering were caused by the accident. It’s important to take pictures of any lacerations, bruises, breaks, contusions, or other physical injuries that may have occurred during an accident. This will help prove that the injuries were a result of the collision rather than pre-existing conditions and may emphasize how painful certain injuries are. Obviously, not all injuries, such as whiplash, can be photographed, but visible injuries are easily captured with your phone. When it comes to getting an insurance company or jury to understand how painful injuries are, the old saying that pictures are worth a thousand words is very true.
When it comes to taking photos after a car accident, the best time to do so is as soon as possible, so long as it is safe. Having evidence of the accident can be invaluable in helping you prove your case and get the compensation you need. Be sure to record license plate numbers and take enough photos from different angles to ensure that all details are captured. Taking car accident photos right away is an important step to help protect your legal rights following an accident.
However, keep in mind that your safety should come first. If you are too injured to take photos, if the other driver is acting aggressively and you fear for your safety, or if it is merely dangerous to exit your vehicle (such as an accident on a busy highway on a stormy night), it may be best to take a few snapshots from inside your vehicle rather than expose yourself to more danger.
Once you have taken all the necessary photos of the accident scene, it is important to preserve and organize your evidence. The best way to do this is by making digital copies of all the images, as well as printing physical copies if possible. There is nothing worse than having important photos that are stored only on your phone and then having something happen to the phone and lose the pictures. It is also important to keep any documentation related to the accident, such as police reports and medical bills, together in one place. This will make it easier for your attorney to go through the evidence and build a strong case on your behalf. Additionally, if you believe third-party photos were taken of the accident scene, an attorney can send a spoliation-of-evidence letter reminding them of their duty to preserve those photos. By taking these steps now, you will be better prepared for any legal proceedings that may come down the line.
If you have been involved in a car accident in South Carolina, it is important to consult with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can provide valuable legal guidance and help you gather the necessary evidence to build a strong case. They can also help you preserve evidence, identify witnesses, send spoliation-of-evidence letters to any third-party photographers who may have captured the scene of the accident, and review all documentation related to your case. Furthermore, an attorney will be able to negotiate effectively with insurance companies on your behalf and represent you in court if needed. At Proffitt & Cox, our attorneys have spent decades helping our neighbors pursue compensation for damages or injuries resulting from the accidents, and we offer a free consultation in injury cases – get started today.
If you suffered an injury from a serious auto accident, you may be facing significant medical bills. You may also be struggling to pay for your expenses because of an inability to work while you recover from your injuries. However, help is available to those who suffered injuries due to the negligence of others as well as for the families of fatal accident victims.
For years, our Columbia injury lawyers have worked on behalf of the people of South Carolina to gain them compensation for their motor vehicle accident injuries. We may be able to provide personal and effective legal support for you as well. Call the attorneys at Proffitt & Cox, LLP today at 803-834-7097 for a free consultation. You can also call the firm toll free at (877) 276-0533 or by filling out the contact form on our site.
We offer free initial consultations for all injury cases. We handle injury cases on a contingency fee basis which means that our fees are a percentage of what we recover for you. You will not owe us any attorney’s fees in such cases unless we are successful in obtaining compensation on your behalf.
Our South Carolina accident attorneys have recovered over $30 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients. These claims involved automobile accidents, trucking accidents, harmful prescription drugs, medical malpractice, product liability, slip and fall accidents and class action cases. Review our representative cases to see some of our past successes and review our client testimonials to see what some of our clients have to say about us.
Contingency fees are calculated based upon the gross amount recovered. Case costs paid by the firm are also reimbursed to the firm from the amount recovered. In most cases, the client will not be responsible for case costs if there is no recovery. Our agreement regarding fees and expenses applicable to your specific case will be provided in writing.
Any result our lawyers may have achieved on behalf of clients in other matters does not necessarily indicate similar results can be obtained for other clients. Each case must stand on its own merit based upon the facts and the law. Some cases referenced were handled by our attorneys while working at other firms, and in some cases, other lawyers participated in the representation of a client.
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