If you are injured or sustain property damage as the result of a car accident, you’ll naturally want to consider filing an insurance claim to receive adequate compensation. In order to file a claim, however, you’ll need to furnish your insurance company with some evidence and one of the best forms of evidence is photography from the accident scene.
In particular, it’s helpful if you can produce any kind of photographic evidence demonstrating that the other driver was reckless or negligent. Such evidence can go a long way toward backing up your claim and increasing your chances of getting maximum compensation.
How to Take Photos at an Accident Scene
As you document your accident, there are a few tips to keep in mind.
1) Stay safe.
Your health and safety are paramount, and you should never endanger yourself just to get a good photo. Some specific advice:
- If you’re injured, just wait until help arrives. Getting up and walking around may exacerbate your injury. If there are any uninjured people on the scene, you might ask them to snap a few photos for you.
- Don’t go anywhere dangerous; for example, avoid entering a travel lane to take photos unless it’s plainly safe to do so.
2) Get pictures of the road.
Good accident-scene photos will capture the conditions of the road. For example, it’s important to document things like ice, snowfall, standing water, or slick roads. Likewise, if there is debris on the road, capture that in your pictures.
Your photography should also capture the location where the accident happened. Many accidents take place at intersections; if that’s the case with your accident, get a full photo of the intersection, along with any skid marks on the road.
3) Document vehicle damage.
Take photos to document any damage done to your vehicle, and any other vehicles involved. This can help insurance adjusters assess the extent of the damage and may also indicate who hit which car and how.
4) Record license plates and driver's licenses.
You’ll definitely want to get a photo of the other driver’s license plate, in case they leave the scene or later claim they were never there at all. And, if you exchange licenses and insurance information with the other driver, get clear photos of those documents, too.
5) Get photos of your injuries.
It’s also important to capture photographic proof of any visible injuries you sustain, including any bruises, lacerations, or other injuries. Once you receive medical attention, take additional pictures of the injury sites as a way of documenting your recovery.
6) Capture any evidence of the other driver’s liability.
Any photographic evidence that suggests the other driver’s liability will ultimately help your case. If you notice beer cans falling out of the other car, try to get a picture. If the other driver is clearly intoxicated, walking in circles or slurring speech, try your best to get video.
7) Check and save.
Before leaving the accident site, verify that the photos you took are visible and clear. Also make sure you save them to the cloud or to a secure drive, ensuring you’ll have access to them when needed.
Questions About a Car Accident Claim?
Gathering photographic evidence is one of the most important steps in filing an auto accident claim. Equally important is enlisting the right representation as needed. If you have questions about car accident claims in Texas, we welcome you to contact our team at McLaurin Law Firm today.
