A Kearns Car Accident Attorney Tips on Taking Photos of a Crash
If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle crash, you may want an experienced car accident attorney in Kearns, Utah, to handle your case. After all, with a skilled legal professional in your corner, you’ll stand a much stronger chance of getting fairly compensated for your losses.
That said, you can take steps to support your claim – and one priority should be to obtain photos. Assuming your injuries don’t require emergency medical care, snapping pictures with your smartphone is in your best interests.
Photos taken after a Kearns collision can provide crucial evidence in support of your personal injury claim. For targeted advice and legal assistance, you’ll need to consult with a car accident attorney, but if you’re looking for tips on documenting a crash, take a look at the following.
Don’t Compromise Anyone’s Safety
Before you take any pictures, take a look at your surroundings – and don’t take any risks. Traffic may still be flowing, and if you’re not careful, you could easily get struck by a vehicle when you step out to get a picture. Or, a motorist might swerve to avoid and, by doing so, cause another car accident.
Take Photos of the Accident Scene
When you’re ready, start with pictures that show the entire crash site. Wide-angle photos taken from a few viewpoints can help ensure that others understand what happened. Get pictures of any road markings, traffic signals and signs, too, and a car accident attorney will want shots of any skid marks and vehicle parts on the road.
Get Pictures of Every Vehicle
Photos that clearly show the condition of all of the vehicles involves in the crash can support your personal injury claim. Document the position of each, taking pictures from several different angles. Get shots of the damaged areas as well, or images that illustrate the lack of damage. Be thorough – the more pictures you take, the better.
Consider the At-Fault Motorist
A car crash can cause a great deal of stress and tension, so be cautious about taking photos of the person to blame for the incident. However, if you see something that might help prove that they’re at fault, such as cans or bottles of alcohol spilling out of their vehicle, a car accident attorney would want a photo – if you can safely take one, that is.
Capture Your Injuries in Photos
Any scrapes, cuts, bruises or other wounds should be documented as soon as possible after the crash. If necessary, you can ask the medical professionals who provide emergency treatment to take snapshots of your injuries. In any case, don’t skip this step, as a skilled car accident attorney can use the photos to strengthen your claim.
Be Sure to Back Up the Images
Taking pictures with your smartphone is completely acceptable – you don’t need expensive equipment to get good snapshots. At the same time, you’re going to want to transfer the images to a computer or save them in the cloud. That way, if your phone is lost or broken, you’ll still be able to get the photos to your car accident attorney.
What if You Forget to Get Photos?
Car crashes are incredibly stressful, and with everything going on, you could easily forget to take photos. Or, the pictures you take might be a bit blurry, making them incomprehensible. In either situation, go back and get pictures during similar weather conditions. Make sure, too, to take clear photos of your car before it gets repaired.
What if You Can’t Take Any Pictures?
As any car accident attorney will tell you, the best time to take photos is immediately after a crash, while you wait for the police to arrive – and before any of the vehicles have been moved. But this isn’t always possible, as many victims are left with severe injuries and require immediate medical care.
If you’re in that position, don’t risk your health to snap photos. Instead, ask a friend, family member, neighbor or co-worker to handle the task. Alternatively, the car accident attorney you hire may be able to collect photographic evidence.
Other motorists involved in the crash and witnesses to the car accident may have pictures. And depending upon exactly where you were driving in Kearns when the incident occurred, a traffic cam or a security camera from a nearby business might have captured the crash on film. In any case, an experienced attorney can track down any photographic evidence that may be available.
Contact Cockayne Law Today
Personal injury claims can be rather complicated. If you’ve been injured in a car crash in Kearns, Utah, and have questions about how to proceed, the professional team at Cockayne Law is here to help. We have extensive experience assisting victims of motor vehicle crashes in obtaining compensation for their losses, and you can count on us to protect your rights and fight for every dollar you deserve.
For more information on the legal services we offer to residents of Kearns, Utah, or to speak with a highly skilled car accident attorney about the types of photos that may help support your personal injury claim, contact Cockayne Law today.
