When it comes to filing an insurance or injury claim, it’s always best to have as much physical evidence to support your claim as possible. Your recollection or events and even witness statements only go so far in proving your claim, so it’s best to have clear and tangible physical evidence to support your version of events. Oftentimes this evidence is best presented in photo form.
But how can you ensure that you document everything to the best of your abilities to help strengthen your claim? We explain how to photograph your car accident scene in today’s blog.
Documenting Your Car Accident Scene
Here are some tips for photographing the scene of the car accident. If immediate medical attention is required, seek care and see if someone else on the scene can take pictures, because health always takes first priority.
Photograph Your Injuries – If you’ve been injured in any way, photograph your injuries. Not just on the day of the accident either. Document the progression of your injuries as swelling and bruising can take some time to develop.
Photograph Vehicle Damage – Next, make sure you document any damage to all vehicles involved in the accident. Your vehicle should get the most attention, but you should also take pictures of damage to other cars involved in the accident, as this can help explain the physics of the accident. If stories between parties differ, photos of all vehicles can help explain who was hit in what direction.
Photograph The Scene – Be sure to take pictures of your surroundings, especially if any of the elements contributed to your accident. If a tree branch obscured a yield sign, or if you swerved to avoid a sizeable pothole, take pictures of these factors. Anything that contributed to your accident should be documented.
Photograph Witnesses – This one can be a little tricky, because some people may not be comfortable with a stranger snapping photos of them while they are assisting or involved with an accident, but it is helpful. Photos of first responders and police officers can help keep records of who helped on the scene that day, since they may respond to a fair amount of accidents. For pedestrian witnesses, it may be easiest to just ask for a name and phone number if they are willing to provide a short statement about the accident.
Over Photograph – When it comes to taking photos of your car accident scene, it’s best to over-document the incident than to take only a few photos. Snap multiple photos of all injuries, vehicle damage, scenes and witnesses so that you can have the best angles and most comprehensive documentation when it comes time to file your claim. Photos only take up a small fraction of phone storage, so don’t be shy about snapping a bunch of photos. Taking too many photos has never hurt a person’s claim, but taking too few certainly has.
For more tips on how to document your car accident, or for assistance in pursuing your injury claim, reach out to Dean and the team at Margolis Law Firm today.
