Photographs to Preserve Evidence

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Take your photos while proof of the accident-causing defect remains, or while evidence of your injury is fresh. Traumatic bruises will disappear, and your doctor will make no mention of them in your medical record unless the bruising is extensive, in which case there may be as many as three of four words in your report saying that you "had contusions."

As noted in the premises liability, dog bite and Photographs at the Scene sections, you are always well served by returning to the scene of the accident or injury as soon as practicable. Take a friend with you to take the photos or to witness you taking the photos. Note the date and time in your notepad. Your friend may have to testify that the photos are true and accurate representations or depictions of the scene that existed on the day the photographs were taken. Do not try to be fancy or exaggerate the scene by using telephoto or wide-angle lenses. Use a standard 35-millimeter if you are using an SLR camera or whatever lens comes on your range finder. You need to note down the type of camera you use because, if you end up going to trial, lens distortion can be a challenge. If you use a telephoto lens or wide-angle lens, you are distorting the image and it will be challenged. If you want to focus in on a particular aspect using a telephoto lens, that is perfectly fine. Just make sure that you also take a picture at 35 millimeters so the normal perspective can be shown if requested.