How Should You Take Crash Scene Photos? 4 Tips from a Longview Accident Lawyer

Even minor wrecks can jar the nerves, but a crash that causes injuries can have long-term physical and emotional consequences. Although no amount of money can undo the trauma, a successful claim may help you avoid bankruptcy due to medical bills and lost income.

It may seem impossible to focus after an accident, but the actions you take in the immediate aftermath may determine if your injury claim is successful. One of the most important steps to remember is to take crash scene photos.

Photographs can tell the story of what happened, providing details about the cause, time, date, injuries, people, vehicles and property damage. You can maximize the evidential value of your pictures by following these tips:

Take pictures that show the positions of vehicles;
Snap close-up shots of your injuries;
Capture detailed images of property damage and skid marks;
And use your camera’s timestamp function.

Unfortunately, you may face a legal battle even if you have sufficient evidence to prove liability and negligence. This is where an accident lawyer may be able to help.

If you were injured by a negligent driver in Texas, contact the Cooper Law Firm. N. Eric Cooper is a personal-injury attorney in Longview who can help you gather evidence and structure your claim. If your case goes to trial, he has the legal experience to find success in court. Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a consultation.

Until then, read on to learn four tips to remember when taking crash scene photos:

Take pictures that show the positions of vehicles.

Take wide-angle shots to show the positions of vehicles relative to one another, the intersection, and road signs. These can provide insight into how the crash happened. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles, you should include landmarks to help investigators orient themselves with the accident scene.

Snap close-up shots of your injuries.

Your personal-injury attorney will have to tie your injuries to the wreck. In addition to medical records and the police report, photos of your wounds can strengthen you claim. Try to take pictures of your injuries at the scene.

Capture detailed images of property damage and skid marks.

Images of the damage to property can help your lawyer demonstrate the severity of the crash. They can also provide insight into the cause of the accident. According to Crash Forensics, skid marks also offer forensic details about the cause, and they help investigators reconstruct the scene.

Use your camera’s timestamp function.

All the latest cameras and smartphones have a timestamp feature. You should switch this on when taking crash scene photos.

As its name implies, the timestamp tells viewers the time and date of a photograph. This will help your lawyer understand the chronology of events. If you do not know how to use this feature or where to find it, use a watch and newspaper.

If you were hit by a negligent driver in Texas, contact the Cooper Law Firm. Attorney N. Eric Cooper is a Longview accident lawyer who can structure your claim.

Mr. Cooper is a member of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and the Gregg County Bar Association. Call 903-297-0037 to schedule a consultation.