Our Kentucky Car Accident Attorneys Explain Why Photos of the Crash Scene Can Strengthen Your Case
In the aftermath of a car crash, it may not always be possible to take pictures of the accident scene, especially if you’re injured. However, these photos can help prove the at-fault driver’s negligence, provide valuable information your personal injury lawyer can use in an investigation, and bolster your claim. 
Taking photographs of the crash is just one step the experienced attorneys at Skeeters, Bennett, Wilson & Humphrey recommend to help you obtain fair compensation for your damages.
How Photographs Serve as Valuable Evidence in Personal Injury Claims
It may be difficult for you to get photos of the crash site, especially if you were injured in the accident. However, any pictures you can take, retrieve from eyewitnesses, or get from nearby video cameras can play a valuable role in your claim. Even if you couldn’t take photos yourself, it’s worth talking to other witnesses who may have taken some after the accident.
What You Can You Learn From Car Crash Photos
Pictures of the crash and the surrounding area can provide the following:
- The position of the vehicles involved in the crash
- The road and weather conditions at the time of the crash
- The damage vehicles sustain in the crash
- Any signs of potential defects or malfunctions of vehicles or their components
- The physical damages you suffer in the crash
Once the cars have been moved and the debris cleaned up, the accident scene only exists in documentation such as police reports and the photos you took. The intersection is reopened to traffic, and any details that weren’t preserved can be lost.
That could be bad news for your personal injury claim, especially if the cause of the crash wasn’t obvious. In their investigations, personal injury attorneys and accident reconstruction experts must base their conclusions on the evidence available. Having photographs of the crash gives them more evidence to work with.
When Crash Site Photos Help the Most
There are specific instances when having photos of the car accident scene may benefit your claim, including the following:
- When the other driver contests liability
- When the accident may have resulted from defective or improperly maintained vehicles or vehicle parts
- When the defendant’s insurance company questions the severity of the injuries or vehicle damage
Accident scene photos aren’t the only pictures that serve an important purpose in your personal injury claim. Medical images can provide critical evidence that proves an injury is as serious as you say it is. If, for example, you suffered broken bones in the accident, providing X-rays of the fractured bones can provide a jury or judge with solid evidence of your injury. Along with X-rays, you may have MRI images, CT scans, and PET images of injuries that provide hard proof to help substantiate your claim.
What to Photograph at an Accident Scene in Kentucky
A comprehensive visual record of the crash can help your claim significantly. We recommend focusing your camera on the following:
- The road or intersection where the collision occurred
- Any relevant road signs, traffic signals, or visual obstructions, such as construction signs or illegally parked vehicles
- The positions of the vehicles involved
- The visible damage to all vehicles (not just your own)
- Skid marks, broken glass, and other debris at the accident scene
- Wet pavement, snow, potholes, spilled oil, and other factors that could contribute to the road conditions
- Your visible injuries
Take photos from as many angles as you can while staying safely out of the path of traffic. Don’t worry about having too many photos of the accident or too many photos that look similar.
How Our Kentucky Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After an Accident
Having experienced professional help on your side throughout the legal process is invaluable. Our Kentucky car accident injury team will serve as your guide and advocate throughout the claims process. That includes protecting your legal rights, handling communication with the at-fault party or their insurance company, and providing honest answers and advice to your questions or worries. We can help give you peace of mind during a stressful time.
Under the KY statute of limitations, car accident victims in Kentucky don’t have much time to take legal action. It’s best to bring on a personal injury attorney who can help you recover compensation for lost wages and other damages as soon as possible. Our free consultation and contingency agreement allows you to hire a KY car crash lawyer at no upfront cost, so there’s no reason to wait to start getting help.
