One of the most common pieces of advice given to motorists involved in car accidents to take pictures, but which pictures should you take? Should you photograph the bystanders, your car or the road? Here are a few examples of the major points of interest that you should capture, and why this is necessary:
Automobiles Involved In the Accident
Take pictures of all the automobiles involved in the crash. Include all modes of transportation involved in the accident such as motorcycles and bicycles. These pictures will help in identifying the cars, their damages as well their relative positions. This is why you should take the pictures immediately after the crash before the vehicles are moved.
Traffic Indicators
You should also capture the traffic indicators around the scene of the accident. These are necessary to help the parties concerned with the accident (such as your respective insurers and the court) to understand who was at fault. Capture all traffic indicators such as stop signs, traffic lights, yield signs, speed limit signs, no parking signs and others.
The Road
It's also advisable to photograph the actual road where the accident occurred. Take close-up photos as well as general photographs of the area. The general pictures are useful for detailing the overall condition of the road including potholes, corners and things like that. The close-ups can be used to pick out important details, such as skid marks, that may be used to interpret the speed and initial braking points of the drivers.
Time and Date
You also need to capture the time and date of the accident in your photographs. Don't forget that the issue can easily become your word against the other motorist's word, and you don't want that to happen. For example, when you claim that the other driver was driving too fast because it was just after school and school children were likely to be crossing the road, a time stamp can help to bolster your claim. You can easily do this by taking a picture of a bystander's cell phone; ensure that the time and date are clearly spelled on the screen.
Damaged Objects and Injuries
Lastly, don't forget to include photographic records of all injuries and damages related to the crash. Include your injuries, other motorists' injuries, as well as injuries sustained by other bystanders. Damages to photograph include vehicles, road signs, guards, and objects by the roadside such as buildings and even trees.
This is not an exhaustive list of what you should capture, but it includes some of the things you should not exclude. Even without photographic evidence, you can still submit a claim and get paid. However, furnishing your car accident lawyer with hard evidence greatly strengthens your case.
Share