If you were injured in a car accident and are looking at your legal options, one of the most important parts of crafting your claim will be to provide photo evidence of the details of the accident. To learn more, continue reading and give our skilled Middlesex County, NJ car accident attorney.
Why should I take photos after a New Jersey car accident?
Physical Injuries
In most cases, injuries will gradually heal over time, which is why you should take photos right after an accident. Photos of your injuries will help others decide your physical condition after the car accident. In some instances, your medical practitioner will decide the use of devices such as an arm sling, cervical collar, walker, etc. Take photos of these devices and, if you are able, keep these devices in a safe place even after they become excessive for your medical treatment. These devices may be used as key evidence in your future lawsuit.
Accident Scene
Take pictures of the road and weather conditions, traffic signals and signs, and general roadway design. Look out for tire skid marks, broken glass, or other things left on the pavement. Sometimes visibility is an essential factor in a car accident, so examine large objects that may have obstructed drivers’ view of the road. If there’s a potential conflict 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 paths of the road.
All Cars Involved
You will want to recognize 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 beneficial in deciding the cars involved (license plate, make, model, color). Property damage to the cars should also be captured. If safety allows, take pictures before the cars are moved. Take as many photos as you can and be sure you also get shots close-up and from a distance. This is important to find the location of impact, the force of collision speed of travel, and direction of movement. Take pictures of the front windshield of the other drivers’ cars. Sometimes something is suspended from the rearview mirror that blocks their view of the street.
Other Important Tips
Make sure you set your digital camera or cellphone so that the date (and, if possible, time) appears in the image. This will help decide the problem of having to remember when the picture was taken if asked later on. Furthermore, 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. The last thing you want occuring is losing these pictures because of malfunctioning electronics.
CONTACT OUR EXPERIENCED NEW JERSEY FIRM
If you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident or were injured on another person’s property, please contact our firm today.
