Photos can be concrete evidence of property damage, accident causes, victim injuries, and defendant liability. While they’re very important for accident lawsuits, don’t let a lack of photos stop you from seeking recovery.
Having pictures for lawsuits is always better than not having them. If you didn’t take enough photos, we may get more from eyewitnesses and law enforcement. Security cameras may film accidents, generating video evidence for accident lawsuits. We can use photos to reconstruct car crashes, and jurors can view injury photos to appreciate victims’ injuries better. Even with photos, we’ll need more evidence for your case, such as medical records and eyewitness statements.
Call The Carrion Law Firm’s NYC personal injury lawyers for and confidential free case analysis at (718) 841-0083.
Do You Need Photos for Your NYC Accident Lawsuit?
All accident lawsuits benefit from photos. They can show property damage after car crashes and hazardous conditions that cause slip and falls. You don’t need photos for a successful lawsuit, but it’s better to have them.
The best time to take pictures is immediately afterward. Make sure photos are clear and accurately depict the scene. If your injuries prevent you from taking pictures, ask first responders for help.
After a car crash, get pictures showing the distance between vehicles after impact. Take note of tire marks on the road or broken glass. Photograph property damage from different angles, too.
Take photos after slip and falls or construction site accidents as well. The scene won’t remain intact for long. The liable property owner might quickly clear the area and the hazard. Photos preserve scenes as-is, corroborate victim statements, and help prove liability.
What Injury Photos Do You Need for NYC Accident Cases?
If you have visible injuries right after an accident, photograph them. These photos can prove you were hurt during specific accident involving the defendant. Photos also help show the severity of victims’ immediate injuries.
As your injuries heal, you can keep photographing them. Photos can show lacerations healing into permanent scars and other injuries progress. We can put pictures of your injuries alongside medical records, showing a clear timeline of your recovery and treatment.
Burns, scars, facial injuries, and others cause pain and suffering. While photos of injuries can show the severity, victims may have to give personal statements about their mental anguish and emotional distress.
Getting Photos for NYC Accident Cases
Victims aren’t the only ones who take useful photos after accidents. Our Long Island, NY personal injury lawyers can get pictures from other sources to use as evidence.
Pictures from Eyewitnesses
Eyewitnesses may take pictures. Their photos may show vehicle damage or debris from different angles. Eyewitnesses might have videos capturing the accident and its cause as well.
We’ll also interview eyewitnesses. Having photos that match their statements supports your case. That’s evidence we can leverage during settlement negotiations for better out-of-court offers.
Ask witnesses for their contact information at the scene if you can. If your injuries are too severe, we may identify them afterward from the accident report.
Pictures from the Police
V.A.T. Law § 600(2) makes calling 911 mandatory if anyone involved in a car crash gets hurt. Don’t hesitate to call 911 for other accidents, too, like bad falls or explosions on construction sites.
In addition to photographing accident scenes, officers can get all involved parties’ information. They can talk to eyewitnesses and record their information. Officers can do this while you get the medical attention you need from paramedics.
Do You Need Footage to Sue for an Accident in NYC?
Like photos, footage benefits accident claims. Videos are harder to come by than photos, but our lawyers may get some when investigating your case.
New York City has countless security cameras. We’ll survey the accident site to see if there are any nearby. We can contact camera owners and preserve footage before it’s deleted.
We’ll demand liable property owners preserve onsite security camera footage, too. They have an incentive to delete evidence of their liability so we can act fast for victims.
Footage can compel better settlements, especially if it shows the defendant being negligent. So, we’ll exhaust all potential sources of footage, like doorbell cameras and dashboard cameras.
What to Do with Photos in Your NYC Accident Case
After car accidents, we will review photos right away. Images of property damage, skid marks, and debris show the sequence of events.
We use photos to determine drivers’ speed and direction of travel during impact. Photos may show traffic signs or pothole potholes that affect the case.
Photos are some of the strongest evidence in accident lawsuits. With enough clear pictures, we may negotiate larger settlements. When cases don’t settle, photos can give juries the context and visual depictions they need.
Along with eyewitness statements, pictures help us address comparative fault arguments. New York lowers a victim’s damages proportionally to their liability. Without photo evidence, a defendant might have more room to argue comparative fault. With photo evidence, however, we may prove that the defendant is solely liable.
What if You Don’t Have Photos for Your NYC Accident Lawsuit?
Not taking photos doesn’t stop you from filing a lawsuit. Contact our lawyers, who can get other evidence that proves fault.
Without pictures, eyewitness testimony can confirm your statements. You might not have photos after a slip and fall in a restaurant because of poor lighting, but there might be several eyewitnesses who can confirm why you fell.
Photos alone can’t prove fault, so our lawyers will need additional evidence. Most accident lawsuits use eyewitness statements, medical records, and videos and pictures when available.
Call Our NYC Accident Lawyers for Help Today
Call The Carrion Law Firm’s at (718) 841-0083 for help from our Brooklyn personal injury lawyers with your case.