A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Why Gathering Evidence is Crucial

A photograph of the scene of an accident provides context and credibility. It shows the little details that are often overlooked. It allows those evaluating your case to see the scene of the accident from your point of view. Medical records give a diagnosis and note pain levels on a scale from 1-10 in black and white ink, but that pales in comparison to the look on someone’s face who is courageously pushing through the pain of rehabilitation in hopes of regaining their strength.

Insurance companies and their adjusters robotically read through hundreds of thousands of medical records each year, often losing touch with the fact that they are reading about real people who are dealing with real pain and suffering.   It’s our job to make sure that these companies see more than just another claim file filled with accident reports and medical records. Our goal is to make them look up from their file and see what we see.

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Evidence Can Disappear Quickly

Because we believe strongly in the power of photographs and video, we will do everything we can to obtain them at each stage of the case. However, some evidence can disappear quickly.  

For example:

• Surveillance video can be overwritten in just days or weeks;
• Vehicles are often moved or towed from the scene quickly and scrapped or sold;
• Ice and snow melts with the change in temperature;
• Construction sites and work zones can change or disappear overnight;
• Bruises and lacerations improve with time;
• Stitches and staples are removed;
• The need for crutches, wheelchairs, walking boots or other assistive devices will hopefully not be needed as you regain strength and mobility through treatment.

With that in mind, if you have been injured in an accident, do not wait to hire an attorney as this evidence is important and can disappear quickly.

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Key Evidence You Should Capture After an Accident

To guarantee that evidence is secured in the early stages of your case, make sure to take photographs and video of the following:

• The accident scene;
• Damage to property such as vehicles;
• Injuries such as bruises, laceration, stitches, staples, surgical incisions;
• Use of assistive aids and equipment such as crutches, wheelchairs, walker, and in-home hospital beds;
• Changes to your lifestyle and activities of daily living.

By following these tips, you are helping to ensure the best possible result for your personal injury claim.

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Contact Us for Free Case Review

At Edgar Snyder & Associates, our goal is to take the legal burden off of your shoulders so that your focus is where it should be getting better. After all, your health is the most important thing.

While you and your loved ones focus on the road to recovery, we work hard to preserve the important evidence we need in order to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Contact Edgar Snyder & Associates to discuss your case today.