Every case today has some type of video, audio, still photograph or diagram that must be enhanced for better presentation to the jury or adjuster. Video recording devices are everywhere, from cellphones and businesses to intersections and nursing homes. This saturation of cameras recording everything everywhere has led to a huge proliferation of this type of evidence being introduced at trial.
The challenge that most attorneys face with evidence of this type is that it almost always needs to be enhanced and/or altered from the original footage. In our past experiences, this enhanced exhibit then becomes the "smoking gun" of all of your evidence and the ultimate proof of your case. That's why it's important that you work with a forensic video company that has years of experience with enhancing this type of evidence, as well as a secure system of documentation, chain of custody and a track record in testifying in order to get your enhanced video properly into evidence.
ANALYSE: Your forensic expert should be able to evaluate the original footage, take a small sample and run several filters on that evidence and then be able to show you a brief, 4-5 second sample of what can be achieved through enhancement, before you commit to fully hiring that expert. That expert should also be able to help you evaluate footage that you think may have been edited before being provided to you and provide you with a credible opinion.
ENHANCE: There are all types of enhancement filters from stabilization to de-interlacing, from compression to blur and color saturation filters that your expert may utilize in order to help clarify and enhance your video. Cropping, magnifying, audio enhancing and slow motion or accelerating can also be applied to your video.
AUTHENTICATE: After you have finalized your enhanced trial exhibit, you then have to get it into evidence. A detailed affidavit from your forensic expert usually suffices, but sometimes depositions and a trial appearance is required. Your forensic expert must be able to accurately recreate and explain their enhancement process from start to finish. That expert must also have a credible track record of previous testimony regarding forensic enhancement and have detailed experience that will stand up to any cross examination.
Verbal testimony aside, there is nothing like a video that persuasively shows what actually happened in your case. Jurors love visuals and many studies in the past have shown that they certainly retain a lot more information when they can see and hear it. So, start to work on your caseload today. Think about where footage of your liability can be obtained and how you then can recreate and enhance that footage to your best advantage at trial.
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