Five Reasons to Photograph Injuries
October 28, 2020 | Personal Injury
Every car wreck is stressful – even when the property damage is minor. When a crash causes injuries, it is easy to panic and nearly impossible to still your nerves and remain calm. It is important to remember, though, that your actions in the aftermath of a collision may affect your ability to make a successful personal-injury claim.
The claims process begins well before you contact your insurance provider; it starts at the scene of the accident. You will need to collect evidence to prove negligence, liability, and damages – which will be particularly important if the at-fault party denies liability or the insurance company refuses to cooperate.
Photos of the crash scene can be incredibly valuable as evidence in a personal injury claim. They tell the story of how the accident happened, capturing details about the cause, time, date, people involved, property damage, and injuries.
Next time you are in a crash, keep these five tips in mind:
- Injuries heal, but photos last forever- Healing happens so slowly that you might not notice the changes day to day. However, your wounds will start looking a little different every day. It is important for juries to understand what your injuries looked like at their worst, not after weeks of recovery. This is why you need to photograph any visible injuries as soon as possible.
- Judges and Jurors are people too- Courtrooms are intended to be impartial and objective, however emotional connections can matter. Photographing injuries will help create emotional ties with the judge and jury.
- Photos don’t lie- Photographs are by far one of the most important and credible evidence you can have. This is because it becomes extremely hard for the other side to argue about your injuries.
- Photo Evidence helps insurance companies overlook your claim- Because most personal injury claims are resolved through insurance settlements, photos again become extremely important. Insurance companies are more motivated to settle when they fear the outcome of a trial, and with strong photo evidence, this can help the outcome of your settlement.
- No photographs can result in claim denial- Insurance Companies can accuse the victim of exaggerating their injuries, or even accuse them of fabricating the damages overall. Without photographic evidence, Insurance Companies have an easier way to make their arguments.
