Car Wreck? Take A Picture.
Posted in Car accidents on October 18, 2016
If you are involved in a car wreck it may be helpful to take photographs. Once you have ensured your safety and the safety of any passengers or other drivers involved in the car wreck you may want to get your smartphone out and snap some shots of the accident scene. Assuming you are physically able to, taking a photograph may be your best evidence of the severity of the car wreck, liability and the extent of your injuries.
Taking a photo of the car wreck will show evidence of:
- Location of the vehicles
- Point of impact of the car wreck
- Driving conditions at the time of the collision; and
- The position of the vehicles
It will often take weeks or even months for your insurance company to gather all of the information it needs to make a determination regarding a settlement amount for your wreck. The more time that passes the more likely it is that you may forget important details about the car wreck. Having photographs from the day of the wreck may help jog your memory about the details of the event and provide evidence in the event your claim goes to court.
If liability for the car wreck is in dispute a photograph may help present evidence as to who is at fault for the collision. Sometimes a police report does not specify which driver or why a driver is at fault for a car wreck. Photographs of the car wreck taken from different angles and distances may provide evidence of the driver that caused the car wreck.
In addition to photographs of the scene of the car wreck, it is important to take photographs of the injuries sustained in the car wreck. Photographs of injuries can provide support of the extent or severity of the injuries and prove that the injuries that were sustained in the wreck were not pre-existing. The photographs of injuries can support a higher settlement amount for you because they can show the pain that was caused from the car wreck.
Here is a list of key photographs that you should try to take if you are involved in a car wreck:
- Your car and the damage to it
- Any other car involved and the damage they sustained
- The location of the vehicles and any skid marks or wreckage on the road
- Any vehicle parts that fell off of the car including glass that shattered
- The street or intersection of the accident including any posted road signage like Stop Signs, Street Lights, Cross Walks or Center Lines
- The weather conditions including any snow, ice or wet roads; and
- Visible physical injuries you sustained from the car wreck
Having these photos may help prevent the other driver or insurance company from raising any defense of liability and support higher damages being awarded to you. If you are in a car wreck, call one of our personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation.
Honest Advice, It’s What We Do. Larry R. Williams, PLLC Attorneys At Law.
