98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB2159

 

Introduced 2/15/2013, by Sen. Jason A. Barickman

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
735 ILCS 5/Art. VIII Pt. 29 heading new
735 ILCS 5/8-2901 new

    Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that in an action concerning a motor vehicle accident in which a personal injury or property damage is in issue, a photograph of a motor vehicle or other property is deemed relevant and admissible into evidence if authenticated by a lay or occurrence witness with personal knowledge that the photograph accurately portrays the vehicle or property as it appeared before or after the accident. Provides that it is not necessary that an expert or opinion witness testify about the photograph's relevance or any correlation between the vehicular or property damage and the claimed injury which may have been caused by the incident which caused the property damage.


LRB098 09991 HEP 40149 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2159LRB098 09991 HEP 40149 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by adding
5Part 29 to Article VIII as follows:
 
6    (735 ILCS 5/Art. VIII Pt. 29 heading new)
7
Part 29. Photographs

 
8    (735 ILCS 5/8-2901 new)
9    Sec. 8-2901. Admissibility of evidence; photographs. In
10any action concerning a motor vehicle accident or occurrence
11wherein personal injury or damage to property is in issue,
12photographs of the motor vehicle or other property shall be
13deemed relevant and shall be admissible into evidence upon
14authentication by a lay or occurrence witness with personal
15knowledge that the photograph truly and accurately portrays the
16vehicle or other property as it appeared before or after the
17motor vehicle accident or occurrence which is the subject of
18the action. It is not necessary for admission of the photograph
19into evidence that an expert or opinion witness testify as to
20the relevance of the photograph or to the correlation between
21the vehicular damage or other property damage and any claimed
22personal injury which may have been caused by the accident or

 

 

SB2159- 2 -LRB098 09991 HEP 40149 b

1occurrence which caused damage to the motor vehicle or other
2property.