Miami Accident Lawyer Blog
On average, there are more than 64,000 traffic-related accidents according to the Crash Dashboard prepared annually by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle. That means that it is possible that you or someone you know could be involved in a collision involving property damage, injuries, or even fatalities. While this is the last situation you want to face, it is important to take certain actions in the immediate aftermath of a car accident. Your health is a first priority, but you should also be gathering as much information from the scene as possible.
Fortunately, today’s technology has provided you with a very important tool for collecting evidence — your smartphone. The vast majority of devices include a camera, enabling you to capture images and video that will help your Miami car accidents attorney prove the essential components of your claim. Here are five things you should take pictures of after the incident.
- All Vehicles: Getting a visual of damage to all vehicles is important because it demonstrates the serious nature of the crash. Though injuries can result from even minor collisions, pictures of severe dents and cracks are evidence of a particularly violent impact. In addition, these images may reveal who was at fault in the accident, which can sometimes be determined by the location of the damage.
- Traffic Signs and Signals: Images in this category can also relate to fault, since they might be proof that the responsible driver did not comply with traffic rules. Make sure to capture views of the turn arrows that accompany some traditional red-green-yellow signals.
- Lane Markings: Similar to traffic signage, it is important to take pictures of directions and instructions on the surface of the road. Pay special attention to dotted or solid lines – both yellow and white, along with crosswalk indicators and other painted lane markings.
- Buildings and Businesses: Shops, restaurants, offices, and other businesses often install security cameras with views that extend into roadways and intersections. This surveillance footage may be critical to proving fault of the other driver, so get snapshots of buildings in the vicinity of the crash.
- Physical Characteristics of the Scene: Some car accidents are the just as much the result of conditions as negligence, such as trees obstructing visibility, potholes that cause a driver to lose control, and related characteristics. You should capture video and images of these issues, since they may also have a bearing on fault.
Get Legal Help from a Miami Car Accidents Lawyer
Of course, this list is NOT exclusive, so make sure to capture any and all images you think may be relevant. All of this information will be important when you are filing a claim with the responsible driver’s insurance company, and it may even be helpful as evidence in court. To learn more about how we can use your pictures, please contact Gerson & Schwartz, PA. You can call our offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, FL to set up a free consultation with a member of our team.