Each year, over 4,000 people die in vehicle collisions on Texas roadways, and many more suffer injuries. When you’re injured in a car accident, your first instinct is probably to seek medical help and make sure anyone else involved in the accident is okay. You’re not even thinking about things like contacting a qualified accident attorney or filing an accident claim.
While your instinct to seek immediate medical attention is correct, the steps you take in the aftermath of an accident can impact your ability to effectively file a compensation claim. Insurance companies are for-profit entities, and they often try every trick in the book to delay, minimize, and deny claims.
With photos, videos, and other evidence to support your claim and your version of events, you can have the best leverage to negotiate for a settlement. If you’re unable to gather this evidence yourself, you can always ask passengers or witnesses for help. So what types of photos and video evidence will you need?
Photos of the Accident Scene
Documenting the scene of the accident is a crucial step in collecting evidence to support your version of events. Start with wide-angle shots that show as much of the scene as possible from different angles, including the intersection or stretch of roadway where the accident occurred and the final positions of all vehicles involved.
Next, photograph every car to document the extent of vehicle damage. This can support your story and ensure that drivers don’t claim additional damage later. Your car accident evidence should also include surrounding property damage to guardrails, barriers, poles, and structures.
Property Damage
As the saying goes, the devil is in the details, and the smallest detail of a car accident scene could make or break your case. Get close-up shots of skid marks, broken glass, and other debris related to damage. You never know what could prove useful when settling car accident cases.
Location Information
Information about the location of your auto accident should be included in the police report, but photos of street signs and traffic signals can help mark the direction vehicles were traveling and where they ultimately ended up. You can also note road hazards that may have contributed to the accident.
Visible Injuries
In a personal injury case, photographic evidence of injuries can serve as an especially compelling form of evidence. Take photos immediately after a car accident injury and during recovery. When paired with medical records, these photos not only create a factual account of damage but also elicit an emotional response.
Video Evidence
An experienced car accident lawyer will likely tell you that the more evidence you have, the more leverage you have to negotiate for a fair settlement. In addition to capturing photos of the scene, you’ll also want to take video footage.
Video can capture key elements that may get lost in still photos. For example, you can better see the flow of traffic and the quality of lighting. You can capture weather and road conditions in real time as well.
There may even be video footage of the crash occurring if there are nearby businesses with surveillance cameras or witnesses with dashcams. Any video footage recorded during or after the crash can help to verify your story and bolster your claim.
Why Are Car Accident Photos and Videos So Important?
Lawyers may present several important types of evidence when filing car accident claims or building a case. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, though, which is why photos and videos can be so compelling.
Whether you’re providing evidence to an insurance adjuster, a judge, or a jury, photos and videos help to recreate the scene and verify facts in a way that a police report and witness statements can’t. While it’s best to gather diverse types of evidence to support your case, photos and videos are among the most persuasive.
How Can an Accident Attorney Help?
A qualified personal injury lawyer not only guides you through the legal process of seeking a settlement but also helps you gather evidence and put it in context. Your legal team can collect both witness statements and police reports.
Additionally, your attorney can hire a reputable accident reconstruction expert to show how the photos and videos you gathered support your claim. For the best results, look for an accident lawyer who has a proven track record of negotiating settlements in cases like yours.
FAQ
What Types of Evidence Can You Use to Support Your Accident Claim?
In addition to photos and videos, a lawyer may present a police report, witness statements, expert witness testimony, and medical records to support your claim and negotiate for a fair settlement.
How Long Does It Take to Settle a Car Accident Claim?
It may take just a few months or several years to settle an accident claim, depending on factors like the complexity of the case, severity of injuries, determination of fault, and evidence presented. Whether a case goes to trial also matters.
What Is the Statute of Limitations to File a Personal Injury Claim?
Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003, you generally have two years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit seeking damages for personal injury in a car accident.
Building a Strong Case for the Compensation You Deserve
When a car accident occurs, you may be understandably rattled and confused, especially if you’re injured. If you can’t take photos or videos, don’t hesitate to ask others at the scene for help. This evidence can be a crucial element when fighting for compensation in your accident case.
If you need help building a strong case, the compassionate legal team at Ramsey Law Group can help. We have over 25 years of experience advocating for the injured in Houston. Contact us now to request a free consultation.