Using Photos to Document Your Car Crash

Testimony of witnesses are crucial to any personal injury lawsuit. As the adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. That is especially the case in litigation where biases run deep, and jurors tend to disbelieve witness testimony. Gathering documentary evidence is vital to ensure success after your car accident (and any other type of lawsuit). Here are a few tips to make sure you properly document your car accident with excellent photographic evidence:

1. Document ALL the damage

After a car accident, you will be heavily focused on your cracked bumper and dented panels, but it is important not miss hidden damages. Exterior shots of your car are obviously the easiest to notice at the time but looking inside the car will often provide great information. Did your air bag deploy? Were your items strewn about within the vehicle? Photographs of all shapes and sizes will help you establish your case down the line.

Especially if determining fault may be difficult, it is important to also document your surroundings and the positions of the vehicles. And, just as importantly, do not skimp on photographs of yourself and your passengers. Bruised skin, burn marks from a recently deployed air bag, scratches and scrapes. Whatever the damage, make sure to document everything to create a full and accurate record of events.

2. Angles are Important

A single photograph is helpful, but several photographs can win your case. Try taking shots from different angles to capture the scene in different ways. Personal injury litigation is like telling a story. At the time it may be difficult to pieces together, but eventually we will want to connect all the dots. Wide shots, close ups, panoramic pictures – do not limit yourself to standard positions to maximize your evidence.

3. Do Not Skimp!

You likely have a camera in your pocket that is capable of snapping hundreds of photographs in moments. Now, hundreds of photographs may be overkill, but more evidence never lost a case. When in doubt take a few more photographs to make sure everything is captured perfectly.

4. Use Video

If you have a dashcam video showing the events leading up to and after the collision, great! Your case just became much stronger. Even without a dashcam, turn on the video recorder on your phone and document in motion. Especially if the damage is more significant, taking the jurors on a tour of the carnage will ensure visceral reactions.
Washington evidence rules focus heavily on allowing parties to document their case. Experienced personal injury attorneys use these rules to their advantage. After a motor vehicle accident, contacting an attorney will help leverage their knowledge to maximize your case’s value. Contact the qualified litigators at the law office of Magnuson Lowell, PS for a free case evaluation.

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