Right after a car accident, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So much has to be done right away, from checking for injuries and assessing damage to the vehicles to contacting police and insurance companies and exchanging information with the other driver. But don’t forget one additional step before leaving the accident scene — taking photos to document what happened.
Snapping pix may be the last thing on your mind in the aftermath of a crash, but it can be tremendously useful down the line, helping you in seeking compensation for your damages and resolving disputes about the circumstances of the accident.
WHAT CAMERA SHOULD I USE?
You don’t need a fancy digital camera. (But if you have one in your glove compartment, more power to you.) The same cell phone you use to call 911 and your insurance agent probably has all the pixels you need. Assuming the scene is safe for you to move around, here are a few general guidelines:
- Take more photos than you think you’ll need, with flash and without.
- Take photos from different angles and distances.
- Hold the phone steady to avoid blurring the image.
- Zoom in for detail and go wide to provide context.
- Use a familiar object, such as a glove or car keys, in close-up shots to give a sense of scale to what is being depicted.
WHAT SHOULD I PHOTOGRAPH?
The short answer is everything that provides relevant visual evidence of the accident and the damages involved. This includes:
- Any injuries suffered by you, your passengers, or other parties involved.
- Damage to the vehicles involved and other property, including damaged personal property inside your car.
- Debris left by the accident, such as shattered glass and vehicle trim on the roadway.
- Skid marks, nearby traffic signs and signals, other relevant evidence.
- Unusual road or weather conditions (such as a pothole or icy road) or other hazards that may have contributed to crash.
- Other materials that help document the circumstances: the other motorist’s driver license and insurance information, license plates of all vehicles involved, contact information for witnesses, etc.
WHY SO MANY PHOTOS?
A lot of images may seem like overkill, but photographs provide a visual record that’s difficult to challenge. If nothing else, the photos can serve as a memory aid as you pursue an insurance claim. They can also prove to be powerful evidence in court, substantiating your injuries or helping to show how the accident occurred.
THE CAR CRASH LAWYERS AT FDAZAR
For more than thirty years the attorneys at Franklin D. Azar & Associates have helped thousands of injured people obtain complete and timely compensation for their losses. Our proven track record and expertise have allowed us to grow into the largest personal-injury law firm in Colorado, with offices in Denver, Aurora, Thornton, Fort Collins, Grand Junction, Greeley, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo. If you’ve been injured in a bus, car, truck, bicycle or motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Please call the car accident attorneys at FDAzar day or night at (800)716-9032 or contact us here for a free consultation and no-obligation evaluation of your case.
