The moments right after a car crash are hectic! It is a time filled with a wide range of feelings including anger, fear, shock, or a wide range of emotions. Personal injuries are a real concern. The last thing people are thinking about is taking photos of the accident scene.
Photos provide a way for claimants to preserve all of the evidence surrounding the accident. They not only preserve the condition of the vehicles, but they also preserve the scene and surrounding area itself immediately following the accident.
Take Photos of All People Involved
Take photos of all of the people who were involved. This would include drivers, passengers in all of the vehicles, witnesses, police officers and medical personnel. This provides photographic evidence of the specific people who were involved in the accident. If the opposing party does not tell the truth about the number of passengers, or tries to hide other information, you will have photographic evidence to back up your side of the story.
Take Photos At Different Distances and Angles
When taking photos of the accident scene, there are many photos you want to include in your documentation of the scene.
Take photos of the whole area surrounding the accident scene. Snap enough photographs so any claim representative can visualize the exact details of the accident to make the correct judgment about your claim. Also, take pictures of skid marks, crumbling roads, debris, and anything else which might have contributed to the accident.
Try to take photos of the accident scene before the cars get moved. This provides clues to the claims adjusters about how the accident transpired.
The weather definitely plays a role in many accidents. It is recommended to document the weather conditions after the accident with photos of clouds, rain, snow, or even blinding sunlight.
If the accident occurs near an intersection with traffic lights, take photos of all the lights. Take a few minutes to watch the stoplights to make sure they are functioning properly.
In addition to taking photos of traffic lights, make sure to take photos of turn lane signs, stop signs, yield signs, or any other photos near the accident scene.
You will want to get as many details as possible regarding the vehicle and driver. Take photos of the other driver’s driver’s license and insurance card information. In some cases, if someone is unwilling to give you all their insurance information, it could be because they do not have insurance, or their insurance coverage has lapsed.
Make Sure the Photos Are Time Stamped
When you take photos on your phone, the photos are often time-stamped. Make sure your phone settings are setup to include timestamps so you will have evidence of approximately when the car accident occurred.
Take Photos of Injuries Including the Healing Process
At the scene of the accident, you should take photos of any visible injuries. You might want to document the recovery process too, taking new photos periodically, documenting your recovery from the accident.
Talk to a Attorney
Taking photos at the accident scene is one of the ways to help build your case. We recommend contacting a personal injury attorney so you will have someone who can fight on your behalf.
Contact Epperly & Follis, P.C. for a free consultation today at 1-888-703-0109 or (804) 648-6480, or you can reach us through the contact form.