The success of a bodily injury claim against the person responsible for an injured officer’s accident often depends upon key facts and evidence collected at the scene. The person injured, who witnessed what happened and experiences the injury, figures that everyone will view the accident and understand the severity of his or her injuries as he or she does. Unfortunately, judges, jurors and especially insurance companies have vastly different perspectives.

Police officers injured at work can take a few simple steps at the time of their accident to enhance their chances of a positive outcome on a claim. Many times the severity of an injury is not readily apparent and even a few days later the opportunity to collect vital evidence has passed.

Photographic Evidence: A Critical Tool for Police Officer Injury Claims
Photographs are essential to proving a case, with respect to both liability and the extent of injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents, police cruiser collisions, motorcycle crashes, and premises liability incidents such as slip and fall accidents. Consider carrying a disposable camera or using your phone to document the scene. Photographs can capture skid marks that will soon fade, road defects such as sand or slippery liquid substances that may not be there in a day or two, or the position of the vehicles after a collision to show that the other driver crossed the double yellow line.

Photos can also document property damage to both the cruiser and other vehicles involved. Since cruisers are designed to absorb the impact with little visible damage, photographs of the other vehicle depicting extensive damage can help show the impact was much harder than appears by merely looking at the damage to the cruiser alone. Photos of the cruiser while at the mechanic on a lift show hidden damage to the frame or under carriage. And always remember to photograph your injuries and clothing when damaged.

Documenting Premises Liability and Slip and Fall Accidents
Photographs are even more important for premises slip or trip and fall cases involving injured officers. Broken steps and railings should be photographed right after the accident before they are fixed. Take pictures of dark porches, hallways or stairwells, as well as burnt out light bulbs which caused you to trip and fall. If you slip and fall on ice, take photos not only of the ice, but also of the surrounding area to show that the ice formed by an unnatural means, such as from melting snow on a roof with no gutter or a broken drain pipe.

These are just a handful of situations where photographs can be the difference in a bodily injury claim. Whether you were injured in a police cruiser accident, a slip and fall incident, or another on-duty accident, you must still prove your case with solid evidence. Working with an experienced police officer injury lawyer or premises liability attorney can help ensure that all necessary evidence is preserved and presented effectively to support your claim.