How Accident Scene Photos Can Increase the Value of a Car Crash Claim
Car crashes can occur in an instant, but the process of dealing with the aftermath of serious injuries and insurance claims can be time-consuming and challenging. Photos of a car accident scene can provide invaluable proof and details regarding the accident.
If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident caused by the negligence or recklessness of another driver, a serious and accomplished car accident attorney will fight for your personal injury claim and help you recover fair compensation.
Importance of Pictures in California Car Accident Claims
Timestamped photographs and videos were taken immediately after the accident can increase the value and credibility of your personal injury claim. The photographic proof can also serve as evidence to establish liability following an accident.
Accident photographs can tell the story of what happened and provide graphic proof of injuries and damages. They can also help jog your memory so that you can credibly reconstruct the incident in your mind.
Trauma in the immediate aftermath of a car crash often causes victims to overlook essential details. Videos and photos can reveal the obvious evidence while shedding light on the subtler proofs.
Subtle evidence can be useful in proving and supporting your personal injury claim. In fact, your attorney will use these bits of information during the negotiation process to get the insurance company to agree to a high settlement amount.
Photographs are one of the best ways of preserving evidence. They serve as invaluable assets in case the claim goes into litigation. Photographs can help you refresh your memories right before speaking in court.
They can be used by your attorney for painting a detailed picture of the accident location and the driving environment. For instance, videos may detail the collision points, traffic conditions at the crash scene, and intersections.
Photographs Force Insurance Adjusters to Take Notice
You can force insurance adjusters to take you seriously by providing good accident photographs and using them along with other forms of evidence. A skilled attorney will organize all the evidence, including the photographs to prepare a compelling case that boosts the claim and leads to a higher settlement offer.
Insurance adjusters are trained to close claims quickly for as little money as humanly possible. You need to understand that even your insurance company is not on your side.
With proper photographic evidence, the adjuster will not be able to ignore your claim. The adjuster would know that you come prepared to go to court if they don’t make the right offer. This places you in a better position during negotiations.
Based on this, it takes a skilled attorney to make the most of accident scene photographs. It is difficult to dispute a well-taken video or photograph regardless of what the other driver or their insurance company says in return.
Photographs are not subject to different interpretations. They can be used to vividly illustrate the accident scene, property damage, and bodily injuries among others. People’s stories can change later on, but images cannot.
Protect Your Claim to Financial Damages After a Car Crash
Your first move should be to seek medical evaluation quickly if you haven’t already been taken to the hospital. This should be done as soon as possible following the accident.
You cannot have a personal injury claim without suffering any bodily injuries. Any delay in seeking medical treatment will only undermine your claim. Insurance companies are in general frothing at the mouth to deny or reduce the settlement amount by saying the injuries are unrelated to the car crash.
While photographic evidence can drastically reduce the likelihood of that happening, it is best that you visit a doctor as soon as possible. It may make sense to return to the accident scene and take a few more photographs depending on the quality of the pictures you took under duress. Make sure you get damaged objects, street signs, and anything else that makes sense to you as evidence.
Don’t forget to maintain a photographic journal of the injuries you receive from the start through the recovery process. Images of swelling, stitching, and bruising can be quite compelling when arguing a car accident claim.
If you have permanent or severe car accident injuries, you should get in touch with a reputable attorney as soon as possible. The insurance company will try to get you to accept a hasty lowball offer.
An attorney by your side will be able to help prevent this from happening. Make sure the photographs capture as much detail as possible. Protect the camera if the weather is bad and try different angles and lighting. Make videos to supplement the photos. Don’t forget to turn on the timestamp feature on your phone camera.
Choose a Dedicated Car Accident Lawyer in California to Obtain the Compensation You Deserve
The seasoned personal injury attorneys at Garmo & Garmo understand the importance of taking photographs and how to use them during negotiations or in the courtroom for maximizing your compensation. If you haven’t had a chance to take pictures or are worried about the next legal steps to take, our car accident attorneys can review your accident case, discuss available legal options, and develop a winning strategy for maximum damages.
To schedule your free consultation, call us at 619-441-2500 or fill out this online contact form.