If you’ve been injured in a Mt. Pleasant accident due to someone else’s negligence, you may file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance company to seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. Just filing your claim, however, is not enough to get the award you need and deserve.
You’ll have to prove the other driver is liable for your damages by showing convincing evidence of that driver’s fault. Photos from the scene of the accident will help you accomplish this goal.
Types of Photos to Take
Photographs provide the best visual evidence for the police, the insurance company, your lawyer, and the courts of how your accident happened and who caused it. You’ll have the chance to get vital photos only in the immediate aftermath of the accident. Once the police, tow trucks, and emergency vehicles arrive, the cars will be moved, and evidence of the post-accident scene will be lost, so you should try to make use of this opportunity to get as many photos as you can.
You don’t need professional photographic skills to take helpful pictures. You can simply use your cell phone camera or any other camera available and try to get clear, well-focused shots of:
- The general scene of the accident
- Skid marks on the road
- Scratched, damaged, or knocked down trees, telephone poles, or guard rails
- The road surface to show its condition
- The sky to show whether it was dark, light, clear, cloudy, or foggy
- Your injuries and those of your passengers (even if they appear to be minor)
- Traffic signs and lights in/near the scene
- Any broken glass, car parts, or debris on the road
- Road construction/detour signs, barriers, or traffic cones
- License plates of all cars involved and insurance cards of all drivers
- Any objects, buildings, trees, or bushes that might obscure the vision of drivers in that area
- Exterior and interior damage to your car and to other vehicles involved in the crash
Try to show the license plates/other visual identification of the vehicles and their positions in relation to one another. You should take as many photos as possible.
Remember to Vary Angles and Distances
It’s best to get multiple shots of everything from different angles and positions:
- Wide-angle shots from up to 20 feet away provide a panoramic view of the general scene and surrounding landmarks
- Medium range photos from 10 to 15 feet away show the scene and the vehicles in more detail
- Close-ups from one to five feet away provide small details of the damage and other evidence
Turn all photos over to your attorney, who can select the most useful and discard those that are redundant or unnecessary. Don’t make those decisions by yourself. Your lawyer might see helpful evidence in a photo that you think is unimportant.
Other Steps to Take Following A Mt. Pleasant Car Accident
If you’re physically able to do so, other steps you can take to increase your chances of a successful claim or lawsuit include:
- Exchange information with the other driver(s) involved, but do not discuss the accident
- Get contact information from any witnesses to the crash
- Note the locations of any cameras that might have taken video footage of your wreck
Have You Been Injured In A Charleston South Carolina Area Car Accident?
If you've been injured in a car accident you should speak with a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Charleston, South Carolina office directly at 843.488.2359 to schedule your consultation. We are also able to meet clients at our Conway, Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Mt. Pleasant, North Myrtle Beach or North Charleston office locations.
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