Photographs that Will Stand Up in Court

Photographs can be important evidence in a court case.  In property damage cases, many people make the mistake of getting too close to the actual damage without the larger view.  These photos tend to be of little value.  This blog will give you pointers on how to take photographs that will hold up in court. 

·         Try to take photos as soon as possible after a property damage loss.  When taking photos of damage, always be sure to take them far enough away to show the proportion to the rest of the property being taken.  A photo can always be zoomed in to focus on the damage but cannot be zoomed out to show the rest of the area.

·         Take many photos from different angles.  This is important because a different angle may show more or less property damage.   

·         When taking close up photos of property damage, use a ruler to show the length.  If a ruler is unavailable use a dollar bill and place it next to the damage.  A dollar bill measures 6.14 inches by 2.16 inches and a court would have to take notice of that undisputable fact. 

·         If you are taking a photo of a vehicle, make sure the license plate is in at least one of the photos.  If possible, open the driver side door and take a photo of the sticker inside the door.  This sticker has valuable information about the vehicle.  Also take a photo of the mileage on the dashboard. This will record the exact mileage. 

·         If taking photos of an intersection get all angles of the intersection.  This may prove helpful if the defendant later claims that something was blocking his or her view of the street.