Photographic documentation is key to establishing your right to compensation in the event of an accident.
If you have been injured in an accident due to the negligence of another party, you need two really important things in order to secure compensation: evidence and an attorney. Photographic documentation is often one of the strongest and most valuable types of evidence you can have in an accident case. After all, it is a lot easier for opposing counsel to cast doubt on eyewitness testimony than it is for them to convince a judge to discount clear photographic evidence. Here are three ways that an expert accident attorney like Fernando D. Vargas might use photographic evidence to help you get compensation after an accident.
Identifying the Party at Fault
Photographs can be very helpful in proving that the person you are accusing of causing or contributing to your accident really was present and culpable. For example, if you get into a car accident, you can take a picture of the other vehicle’s license plate to protect yourself against the risk of them leaving the scene without identifying themselves or providing their insurance information. If you are the victim of a dog bite, you can take a picture of the dog that bit you as well as of the person that the dog was with. Even if that person is not the dog’s actual owner, if they were caring for the dog at the time they can be considered the dog’s handler and held liable for its actions.
Establishing the Circumstances
Photos can also help establish the circumstances surrounding an accident. This can be very helpful because as time passes after the accident, details might get a little fuzzy in your mind or in the mind of various witnesses. But if you have a photograph, you can refer to it for the necessary details. If you are involved in a premise accident, you will definitely want to take a photo as soon as possible after the accident. This will prevent the property owner from correcting the dangerous condition that caused your accident and subsequently claiming that no danger ever existed.
Proving the Severity of Your Injuries
Photographs should definitely be taken of all injuries suffered in an accident. You want to take the photos as soon as possible so that the judge will be able to see the full extent of the injuries, as well as during the healing process to show any scarring that may take place. In cases involving injuries that are not clearly visible, such as spine or brain injuries, documentation from your physician can take the place of a photograph.
Choose an Attorney Who Knows the Value of Photos
Fernando D. Vargas makes photographic evidence a cornerstone of his personal injury cases whenever possible. He will even arrange for the photos to be taken at his expense if you choose to engage him as your attorney.
