Resolving Car Accident Claims: Tips for Taking Good Photos After an Accident

When seeking financial compensation after a car accident, it is important to have as much evidence as possible. While this evidence can take many forms—and while you will need a lawyer to collect many forms of evidence for you—you can help your case by taking lots of photos at the scene of the crash.

You will want to continue taking photos at home (or in the hospital) as well. Not only will you need documentation of the cause of your accident, but you will need documentation of the accident’s effects as well. Here, too, the more evidence you have the better—and the better photos you take, the more your lawyer will be able to use them to your advantage.

So, how do you take good photos after a car accident? Here are some tips from the attorneys at Searcy Denney:

Tips for Taking Good Photos At the Scene of a Car Accident

1. Take More Photos Than You Think You Need

When taking photos to document a car accident, it is always a good idea to take more photos than you think you need. You can never have too many pictures, but if you don’t photograph important details it may be difficult to document them through other means.

How many photos should you take? There isn’t a magic number, but a good rule of thumb is that once you think you have thoroughly documented everything, you should take a few more pictures just in case. Try to capture as many angles as possible (assuming it is safe to do so), and try to make sure you have fully captured:

• Your vehicle at the crash site
• All other vehicles involved in the collision
• The roadway ahead of and behind the crash site
• All traffic signs and signals in the vicinity
• Any debris or other items in the roadway

2. Focus On the Details

As you decide what to photograph, focus on the details. For example, in addition to taking a picture of an entire car, take close-up photos of any damage. If you think another driver ran a red light or stop sign, take a photo of the light or sign specifically. When you look back over your photos, seeing these types of pictures will help you remember everything you need to tell your attorney.

3. Focus On the Bigger Picture

In addition to focusing on the details, you should also focus on the bigger picture. Step back and try to capture the entire accident scene with a single photo—and do this from multiple angles if possible. Not only will this provide your attorney with an understanding of the overall crash site; but, if there are key details in these photos, your attorney will be able to zoom in to view them.

4. Don’t Zoom In

When taking photos at the site of a car accident, you should use your phone’s normal focal length. Do not zoom in. Most phone cameras only have digital zoom functionality, and this digital zoom makes details blurry. But, after taking a photo with your phone’s normal focal length, you can then zoom in on your photo and see the details clearly.

5. Use Photos to Document Important Information

Along with using photos to document the accident itself, you should also use photos to document important information. For example, if you take pictures of each of the following, you will have this information on your phone—and you won’t have to worry about losing your paper copies:

• The other driver’s (or drivers’) license plates and insurance cards
• The police report
• Any witnesses’ business cards or personal contact information

Tips for Taking Good Photos At Home (or In the Hospital)

1. Take Photos of Your Injuries

As soon after your accident as possible, you should take photos of your injuries. Here, too, take plenty of pictures from multiple angles. Documenting your injuries in this way serves two important purposes: (i) it provides a time stamp for when you suffered your injuries; and, (ii) it documents the severity of your injuries in the immediate aftermath of the collision.

2. Thoroughly Document the Damage To Your Vehicle

You will want to thoroughly document the damage to your vehicle before it gets repaired (or taken to the scrap yard). If you are physically able to do so, you should take photos of the exterior of your vehicle from all angles, paying particular attention to the areas that were damaged in the crash. You should take plenty of photos of the interior as well—here, too, focusing on any areas that suffered damage. If you are unable to take these photos due to your injuries, you should ask a friend or family member to take photos with your phone.

3. Take Photos of the Consequences of Your Injuries

In addition to documenting your injuries themselves, you should also document their consequences. For example, if you are unable to attend your children’s games or recitals, you should take photos of their team schedules or event announcements so that you have records to share with your attorney.

4. Take Photos to Document Your Recovery Process

As you go through your physical therapy and rehabilitation, you should use photos (or videos) to document the recovery process. When dealing with the insurance companies, it will be important to show that you are doing everything you can to make sure you recover as fully and quickly as possible.

5. Use Photos to Document Important Information

Finally, just as you should use photos to document important information at the crash site, you should also use photos to document important information on an ongoing basis. If you take photos of things like your medical records and any letters you receive from the insurance companies, you won’t have to worry about misplacing them before you share them with your attorney.

Injured in a Car Accident in Florida? Contact Us for a Free and Confidential Consultation

At Searcy Denney, we help car accident victims in Florida win the financial compensation they deserve. If you have been seriously injured in a collision, we strongly encourage you to call 800-780-8607 or contact us online for a free consultation.