The Evidence Store - Automobile Crashes

Automobile Crashes

Fill light helps bring out the details on the shadow side of the car.

Close-ups record secondary information for further analysis

The study of paint and scrape marks aids in the reconstruction process.

As long as there are cars, they will continue to smack into one another. Photographing vehicles for personal injury cases may be a routine task, but we pride ourselves in delivering the highest quality work on large and small cases. In the more routine cases, we generally photograph all sides of the vehicle at 90 degree angles, and follow up with views made at 45 degrees looking into each corner. We then concentrate on making closer views of the specific areas of damage, using both natural lighting and flash illumination to capture the maximum detail. When possible, the interior of the vehicle is photographed to record any damage that might correlate with the injuries sustained.

Many cases will turn on the evidence documented in such photos. Such details as the depth of the static penetration, the exact locations of paint transfers and debris imbedded in the twisted wreck and the condition of the interior compartment are all pieces of a puzzle that will assist the accident reconstruction expert in sorting out the differing versions of the happening of the collision.

In cases where the services of a reconstruction expert will be retained, we photograph the vehicle in such a way as to properly document the static penetration from the impact, recording the measurements to make a crush profile diagram for future analysis.

By examining the headlight filament, it can be determined whether or not the lights were on before the crash. A broken filament indicates that the lights were on.

While many crashes are not so involved as to warrant this much of a "surgical" approach to the documentation, knowing what to look for and translating the findings into two-dimensional photographs is a special skill owned by our professional legal photographers. This includes the proper choice of camera angles to prevent any distortion that might misrepresent the true nature of the damage. We also check for damage to the dashboard, steering wheel and glovebox area for damage that would support the claim of bodily impact and subsequent injuries. All sides of the vehicle are documented in the event that information obtained through discovery warrants additional study of the vehicle to confirm or rule out opposing theories. It is important to contact us as soon as possible to photograph vehicles, to prevent losing the evidence, as cars are quickly repaired or sold to salvage yards or auction dealers.