Taking photos after a car accident is one of the most important steps in the discovery process for a personal injury claim. To learn more, continue reading and give our skilled Baltimore County car accident attorneys a call today.
Why should I take photos after a Maryland car accident?
Accident Scene
Take plenty of photos of the road and weather conditions, traffic signals and signs, and general roadway design. Keep an eye out for tire skid marks, broken glass, or other things left on the pavement. Sometimes visibility is a critical factor in a car accident, so look into large objects that may have blocked drivers’ view of the road. If there’s a potential argument about the color of the traffic light (i.e. red light versus green light), make a video that shows the timing of the lights at the intersection for all directions of the road.
All Cars Involved
You will want to note that pictures should be taken of all of the cars that were involved in the accident, even if there is no harm to one of them. The photos will be useful in deciphering the cars involved (license plate, make, model, color). Property damage to the cars should also be captured. If safety permits, take photos before the cars are moved. Take as many pictures as you can and make sure you also get shots close-up and from a distance. This is important to determine the location of impact, the force of collision speed of travel, and direction of movement. Take photos of the front windshield of the other drivers’ cars. Sometimes something is suspended from the rearview mirror that blocks their view of the road.
Physical Injuries
In most instances, injuries will slowly heal over time, so you should take photos right after an accident. Photos of your injuries will help others determine your physical condition after the car accident. In some cases, your medical practitioner will determine the use of devices such as an arm sling, cervical collar, walker, etc. Take pictures of these devices and, if you can, keep these devices in a safe place even after they become excessive for your medical treatment. These devices may be used as evidence in your claim.
Other Important Tips
Be sure you set your digital camera or cellphone so that the date (and, if you can, time) appears in the photo. This will help decide the problem of having to remember when the picture was taken if asked later on. Additionally, back up your digital photographs by saving them onto a second hard drive, copying them onto a thumb drive, burning a copy onto a CD or DVD, and/or printing out the photographs. You will not want to risk losing these photographs because of faulty electronics.
CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED BALTIMORE COUNTY, MARYLAND FIRM
If you have been injured due to another party’s negligence and require strong legal representation, contact Markey & Orsi today to schedule a consultation.
