Short Answer

In North Carolina personal injury cases, the safest approach is to send your accident-scene photos and documents in a way that preserves the original files (including dates/metadata), keeps them private, and creates a clear record of what you provided. Use your lawyer’s secure upload link or client portal if offered, and avoid editing, filtering, or screenshotting photos before you send them. Keep the originals on your phone or device and back them up.

Understanding the Problem

If you are working with a North Carolina personal injury lawyer after an accident and you have accident-scene photos to share, the key question is how you can send those files so your lawyer can actually use them later in your claim. In your situation, one important detail is that the firm is also sending you intake paperwork and a medical-records authorization so it can request medical bills and records after treatment is complete.

Apply the Law

To use photos and documents in a North Carolina injury case, your lawyer generally needs to be able to (1) show what the item is and where it came from, and (2) show it has not been altered in a way that makes it unreliable. That is why the “how” of sending matters: preserving original files, keeping a clean trail of what was provided, and avoiding accidental changes to the evidence can make it easier to authenticate and present later. Medical records are often obtained directly from providers using signed authorizations and formal requests, and North Carolina law has specific rules that can help medical records be received as evidence when properly obtained and tendered.

Key Requirements

• Preserve the original files: Keep the original photos/videos on the device where they were created. Avoid edits, filters, cropping, markup, or converting them to screenshots, because that can strip metadata and create arguments about changes.
• Send in a secure, trackable way: Use a secure client portal, encrypted upload link, or another method your lawyer provides so the firm can store the files and document receipt.
• Provide context information: Share the date/time range, location, and what each photo shows (in plain English). This helps your lawyer later explain and authenticate the images.
• Keep a copy of what you sent: Maintain your own backup (cloud or external drive) and a simple list of what you provided and when.
• Do not post or forward widely: Limit sharing to your lawyer. Public posts can create privacy issues and can be used against you in negotiations or litigation.
• Use authorizations for medical records: For medical bills and records, follow the firm’s instructions for signing and returning the medical-records authorization so the firm can request records directly from providers.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8-44.1 (Hospital medical records) - Allows hospital medical records to be received as evidence when obtained and tendered through the proper process (for example, through the records custodian and subpoena procedures) if otherwise admissible.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8-45.1 (Photographic reproductions of records) - Provides that properly identified reproductions of records made in the regular course of business can be admissible like originals, which is one reason firms focus on obtaining records in a reliable, documented way.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8-58.60 (Privileges not limited) - States that nothing in that Article limits privileges such as attorney-client privilege and work-product protection, which is part of why you should send case materials directly to your lawyer rather than publicly.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Because you already have accident-scene photos, the most important step is to get the original files to your lawyer without altering them, so the firm can later show what the photos are and when/how they were created. Since the firm is also sending intake paperwork and a medical-records authorization, you should return those promptly and let the firm request medical records directly from providers, which helps create a clean record trail for bills and records.

Process & Timing

1. Who files: You (the client) provides photos/documents; your lawyer requests records. Where: Through your lawyer’s secure client portal/upload link (preferred) or the method the firm instructs you to use in North Carolina. What: Send the original image/video files (not screenshots), plus any PDFs you received (police exchange form, towing receipt, repair estimate, etc.). Return the firm’s intake paperwork and signed medical-records authorization as instructed. When: As soon as possible after you hire the firm, and before you upgrade/replace your phone or delete anything.
2. Next step: After upload, send a short message listing what you provided (for example, “25 photos and 2 videos from my phone taken the day of the crash”) and ask the firm to confirm receipt. If you have multiple devices, tell the firm which device took the photos.
3. Final step: Keep the originals and a backup. If the case later goes into litigation, your lawyer may ask you for the device information or original files again to support authenticity and to respond to discovery requests.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Editing and “cleaning up” images: Cropping, adding arrows/text, applying filters, or screenshotting can remove metadata and create disputes about whether the image reflects what was originally captured.
• Texting photos as compressed images: Some messaging apps shrink files and strip data. If you must use email, ask your lawyer how to send “full resolution” attachments or use a secure link instead.
• Posting on social media: Even innocent posts can be taken out of context. Keep accident photos, injury photos, and recovery updates private and share them only with your lawyer.
• Losing the device: Replacing a phone, factory resets, or automatic “storage cleanup” can delete originals. Back up your device and tell your lawyer if you plan to change phones.
• Mixing medical records into the wrong channel: Follow the firm’s process for the medical-records authorization so the firm can request records directly from providers and keep them organized for your claim.

Conclusion

To make accident-scene photos and documents usable in a North Carolina personal injury case, send them in a way that preserves the original files and creates a clear record of what you provided. Avoid editing, filtering, or screenshotting photos, and use your lawyer’s secure upload method when available. Next step: upload or deliver the original files and return the signed medical-records authorization promptly so your lawyer can request your medical bills and records through the proper channels.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you’re dealing with an accident claim and need to share photos, videos, and paperwork in a way that protects your case, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand your options and timelines. Reach out today. Call [CONTACT NUMBER].

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.