If you are involved in a car accident, don’t be shy about pulling out your phone and snapping some photos. Photos help you prove your case.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed when you are involved in a car accident. Many of us have been in that position. Even after the dust settles, feelings of stress, fear, and anger are still present. While you may feel like doing anything else, keep in mind that you should check on anyone hurt and call 911 to request police and an ambulance if necessary.
Then, begin recording photo evidence of your accident before anything can be moved or tampered with.
Get Help Gathering Evidence
As premier car accident attorneys in Tampa, the team at Steinger, Greene & Feiner know the difference that pictures can make. Gathering evidence as quickly as you can makes a difference in your case, especially in cases where insurance companies want to do everything they can to reduce liability.
If you have any questions about gathering evidence or dealing with insurers, give a Tampa car accident lawyer near you a call at (813) 553-5352 or contact us online. We’ll schedule your free, no-obligation case review with an experienced car accident attorney.
If you were involved in a car accident in Tampa, knowing the pictures you should take – and what could be avoided – can save you time when documenting evidence while helping build a stronger case.
Get Pictures of the Vehicles
The first thing to take pictures of is your vehicle. The second thing is the other vehicle involved. If you forget to take any other pictures, these will be the most important. Take a photo of the license plate of each car involved. Take pictures of areas where there is damage to the body of the vehicle as well as areas where there is no damage, to provide context.
When you are taking pictures of the vehicles, take them from different angles. Get close-ups and wide-angle shots. If you’ve not moved the vehicles, get photos of how they came to rest. If you have time and your head is clear enough, use a familiar object like a dollar bill or shoe next to any damage when you take the picture. Your hand, a receipt, your wallet…anything you can grab. It will give a size perspective to anyone viewing the photos in the future, allowing them to grasp the size of damage or debris at a glance.
Take Photos of IDs, Insurance, and Contact Information
With the other person’s permission, you can take photos of their driver’s license and insurance card for later use. This ensures you have these documents on record and don’t have to worry about remembering things or writing them down.
If you speak to any accident witnesses (which you definitely should), ask to take a photo of their ID as well, just so you can get in touch with them later. If they don’t feel comfortable with this, either put their contact information into your phone or record a quick statement with the contact information at the end.
Get Pictures of the Crash Site
Taking pictures of the crash site will give a judge and jury an idea of the conditions at the time of the wreck and whether there may have been contributing factors. If a stop sign was obscured from view, a tree branch was hanging low in the roadway or the road was icy, you may be able to show that the other driver wasn’t attentive to hazards.
As you are taking photos of the crash site, look for telltale signs of a crash: skid marks, property damage, and more. These, along with pictures of the damage to the vehicle, can help a judge or jury picture exactly what happened.
Also, include fixed objects that can serve as a landmark, establishing the location where the accident occurred. Road signs, mile markers, billboards, and nearby businesses can all provide context. Even a bush, stump, or tree can be enough of a landmark, provided they are unique-looking.
Your Injuries
If you sustained injuries as part of the collision, be sure to take photos of whatever is visible. Never think that an injury is too minor to be recorded. It isn’t unusual for injuries to become more apparent in the days or weeks following a crash. What appears to you to be inconsequential now could be indicative of a serious injury.
The Proof Is in the Details
As you are taking pictures, remember that the key to winning your case could be in the details. Don’t be shy about taking photos; you can’t take too many. Your attorney will sort through the pictures you take and determine which are important and which aren’t. If you are looking at something and wondering if it is important, just assume that it might be.
A Tampa Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
When you have been in a car accident and need assistance, a Tampa car accident lawyer from Steinger, Greene & Feiner is ready to represent you. We will speak to you at no cost and with no obligation, helping you understand the most important decisions you have in front of you.
Reach out to our Tampa law office today at (813) 553-5352 or contact us online to schedule an appointment. We do not charge anything for your initial consultation, so don’t hesitate to contact us with your questions. Our personal injury attorneys are experts at what they do, and we will fight tirelessly on your behalf.