Pointers on Taking Accident Scene Pictures

If you are involved in an accident, being able to take pictures of the scene can make the difference between winning or losing your case. Photographs can help provide a more objective perspective to the case, whether the accident is a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall injury or another type of injury.
Evidence Rules

Certain rules of evidence preclude showing remedial measures that have been made, so pictures taken after the accident may be the only proof of how the environment was on the day of or near the day of the accident.

Decide which Pictures to Take

Before snapping, consider which pictures will help tell the story of how the accident occurred. For example, in motor vehicle accidents, you may want to take pictures of the signs leading up to the accident site from multiple angles. You may also want to include pictures of the exact location of the accident and the vehicle damage.

For a premises liability case, you may want to take pictures of the location of items that led to the fall. For example, you may wish to capture food that was spilled on the floor with no sign that warned you of its presence.

Take wide shots of the overall scene of the accident. You can always take more detailed photos later.

For all types of injuries, take pictures of any physical injury that resulted. Take pictures of the injury as time progressed so that you can give a potential jury a better idea of the pain and suffering that you endured.

Use the Camera Available to You

Although you may want a better quality camera, pictures that are taken early in the process may be more helpful than more detailed pictures taken at a later time. If you have a phone camera available, use it. You can always come back later with another camera to capture images that will not change, such as road signs.

Take Close-Ups

After taking larger photographs that encompass the entire accident scene, take close-ups of important points of the accident. For example, take close-ups of the damage to vehicles. Try to include an identifying characteristic in the picture, such as a VIN or license plate number so that it cannot be refuted that the damage in the picture is of your vehicle. Take shots of different angles. These types of pictures can help show the more likely reasons for the accident.

Establish the Date and Time

Use a date and time stamp function if available on your camera. This tool can help demonstrate the proximity between the time of the accident and the time of the photo.

Take a Lot of Pictures

Do not worry about getting the perfect shot, especially if you are limited to a certain amount of time. However, take as many pictures as you can so that you hopefully photograph important aspects of the accident scene. Take pictures from different angles and different distances.

If the defendant has given an explanation for his or her actions, take any pictures that refute these assertions. For example, if a store manager said that the employees had not seen dropped produce on the ground, take pictures of the rotting food that shows that it had been in this condition for a longer period of time. If a motor vehicle accident defendant said that he or she did not see you, take pictures from his or her vantage point.

Consider Weather and Lighting

Weather may play a part in the quality of your pictures. Consider how sunlight, rain, snow or other weather conditions may affect your pictures. Try using different settings and flash intensities to take the same pictures. Switch between using flash and not using it.

If you suspect that the defendant may blame weather for the accident, take pictures of the actual weather conditions. Take a picture of the sun and its geometrical relationship to a still object, such as a building. Take pictures of any rain or snow clouds and the precipitation.

Check for Other Cameras

In addition to any pictures that you take, investigate if there are any other cameras around that may help prove your version of events. For example, nearby businesses or governmental offices may have outside cameras. A witness may have photographed or recorded the accident.