If you talk to any car accident lawyer, they will tell you that one of the most important things you can do after a car crash is to take photographs. Most people think that this means taking only photographs of the vehicles involved in the crash. Although photos of the vehicles are important, you shouldn’t stop there. In addition to photos of the vehicles, it’s also important that you also try to photograph the entire scene of the crash, including all of the surrounding buildings, landscaping, other vehicles in the area, etc. In other words, the more photographs you can take of everything around you, the better. Here are a few reasons why this is so important.
Photographs Taken Right After a Crash Best Document the Scene as it Existed at the Time of Crash
If you don’t take any photographs after your crash, you may lose out on obtaining important evidence that could be used to help you win your case. For example, if you wait to take photos of your vehicle damage until you get home, you won’t ever be able to accurately depict how the vehicles involved ended up after the collision. Although you can testify how they ended up to the best of your recollection, memories do fade over time. By the time you actually testify, you may not recall many important details. More importantly, you may miss documenting key evidence such as skid marks that could be potentially be used by an expert to reconstruct your crash.
Photographs May Lead to Additional Claims
Most people think that when they are involved in a car crash, that their only recourse is against the driver that hit them. However, there may be additional parties that you can pursue depending on the case. In the state of Florida where bodily injury coverage is not mandatory, this could be the difference between recovering for your injuries, or not.
For example, if you are hit in a parking lot, there may be conditions in the parking lot that may have caused or contributed to your crash. Conditions such as excessive potholes, poor lighting, or even an unreasonably dangerous blind spot can, if shown to be a contributing factor to the cause of the crash, place liability on the owner of the parking lot.
Another example is with overgrown vegetation. There have been many cases where overgrown vegetation at an intersection makes it difficult, if not impossible, for a vehicle to see other vehicles coming. If it can be shown that the overgrown vegetation was a factor, the owner of the property may also be held responsible for your injuries.
Photographs May Lead to Additional Witnesses
If photographs of the surrounding area are taken after the crash, they may depict important things such as other commercial vehicles in the area that could, potentially, lead to the discovery of additional witnesses. In addition, the photographs may also help your attorney identify businesses that may have surveillance cameras that might even show your crash as it occurred. If you wait to take these photographs, you will likely lose this evidence.
Trust SouthShore Injury Attorneys With Your Ruskin Car Accident Claim
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it is important that you consult with a qualified personal injury attorney. The attorneys at SouthShore Injury Attorneys handle only personal injury claims, and are experienced in representing personal injury cases throughout the State of Florida. If you’ve suffered injuries in a Florida car accident, contact SouthShore Injury Attorneys at 813-797-5998 for a free consultation.
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which are available at our website, or you can click the link provided. You can also contact us at 813-797-5998 to talk directly to a Ruskin Car Accident Attorney now.