A plaintiff sues a defendant for injuries sustained in a car accident. During the trial, the plaintiff's attorney seeks to introduce a photograph of the heavily damaged car involved in the accident. The defendant objects, arguing that the photograph will unfairly evoke sympathy from the jury. Which factor is the most relevant for the court to consider when deciding whether to admit the photograph?
Whether the plaintiff has other evidence to prove the severity of the accident without relying on the photograph.
Whether the photograph is relevant to proving a fact in dispute, such as the severity of the accident or the plaintiff's injuries.
Whether the photograph was taken by a third party unaffiliated with the plaintiff or defendant.
Whether the defendant was responsible for causing the damage shown in the photograph.
The correct answer is based on the Federal Rules of Evidence, which require courts to balance the probative value of evidence against its potential to create unfair prejudice, confuse the issues, or mislead the jury. The photograph's relevance to establishing facts central to the case is the key factor, as relevant evidence is generally admissible unless its unfair prejudicial effect outweighs its probative value. The remaining options are incorrect because they describe secondary considerations or misstate the standard the court must apply. For instance, whether the defendant caused the damage is an issue of fact for the jury to decide and is not directly tied to the photograph's admissibility.
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