As a personal injury attorney, it's important to surround yourself with people who will perform the services that will augment the cases that you take on. While you'll be the one to present the case in court, the hard work of those who work for you can make your job easier. Personal injury attorneys frequently use a variety of legal assistants and investigators, but you shouldn't hesitate to consider adding a professional photographer to your team.
Even if the photographer works for you on an as-needed basis, rather than is a full-time employee of your team, his or her ability to take high-quality photos can augment your cases. When you're interviewing photographers for the job, specify that they'll be taking the following types of photos.
Injury Photos
Photos of a client's injury will go a long way toward demonstrating its severity, whether you're presenting information to the other party's legal team or taking your client's case to court. Injury photos aren't something to snap with your smartphone and hope that they turn out well. A professional photographer will know how to use lighting strategically, as well as shoot from the best angles, to maximize the impact of the images. Whether its wounds from a dog bite or scarring from a burn, having a professional take the photos is the best approach.
Scene Photos
It's also important to document the scene of the injury with photos. This is a job that needs doing in a timely manner, as the other party involved could get busy making changes to the scene so that it doesn't appear as hazardous as it was when your client was injured. You'll need your photographer to be able to visit different accident scenes quickly and take photos. Many of these scenes will be on private property, and the property owner may try to block your photographer's access. He or she will need to be adept at taking clandestine images for you.
Lifestyle Photos
It may also be necessary to show how your client's injury has disrupted his or her lifestyle. For example, in the case of a broken hip, leg, or ankle that makes it difficult to get around, photos that show the client's predicament in navigating his or her house can add an impact to your case. In this example, photos that show how many stairs the client needs to ascend with difficulty to get up to the front porch can support your claims of this injury causing significant distress to your client.
For more information, contact a lawyer like Franklin L. Jones, Jr.
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