FINDING PHOTOS THAT "DON'T EXIST"

One picure is worth a thousand words; especially when litigation is involved.

It's no secret that police and coroners routinely take photos at crime scenes or during serious accident investigations. This evidence is easily obtainable during the discovery process.

However, this is not the only potential source of images that document the scene. Don't forget that first responders like EMTs, paramedics, firefighters and heavy rescue personnel often take their own photos as souveniers; even when there aren't any official photos on file.

Where can you look?

Start with attendance rosters. Volunteer firefighters always sign in after responding to a call. It wouldn't hurt to contact the local chief an solicit his or her cooperation in contacting those who responded to the scene. If patient extrication was necessary at an auto accident, it is almost a guarantee that photos of the techniques used during the operation will be found. These pictures are usually taken for training purposes and often posted on the fire company's Internet home page or social media site.