If you’ve ever been in a vehicle crash, you know that taking photos after a car accident is important for insurance purposes. Photos from the accident are the best way to show the police and insurance adjusters exactly what the scene looked like at the time of the crash. It doesn’t matter what type of camera you use, a phone is typically fine. It’s important to know exactly what to photograph as well as how to get the best shots. When figuring things out with an insurance company or with another driver, having photos will give you the best leg to stand on when you make your case.

Taking Photos After a Car Accident: Why and How

Why Take Photos?

The main reason why taking photos after a car accident is so important is that it’s the best way to preserve evidence. After a car accident, your memories might be a blur. However, the photos you take can paint a very accurate picture of what the crash looked like. It can also help adjusters and attorneys know the weather conditions, debris, any injuries, or damage to the cars from that day.

What Camera to Use?

When taking photos after a car accident, any type of camera will do. Most smartphones include a camera nowadays, but an old-fashioned polaroid camera will also do. You don’t need to get artistic with your photos, you’re just documenting the scene of the accident. If the camera has a date and time stamp availability, make sure to turn that on.

What to Photograph?

It’s important to know exactly what photos after a car accident are most important. You’ll want to get photos of any vehicles that are involved in the crash. It’s also helpful to document the weather conditions as well as the scene of the accident. Include photos of debris, skid marks, and damage to any cars. Finally, if there are injuries from the accident, photograph those as well.

Taking the Best Photos

When taking photos after a car accident, it can be very helpful to take photos from a wide variety of angles. This will allow insurance adjusters or attorneys to help argue the details of the case. Try to take photos from several distances and take a wide shot of the entire scene. It can also be helpful to include something in the photo for scale, like your hand or a coin.

Taking photos after an accident might be the last thing on your mind after going through a traumatic car crash. However, after the fact, when you’re dealing with insurance companies or if you’re involved in a car accident deposition, you’ll need every detail of the scene. Therefore, documenting the accident with photos can be very helpful for you. Use any type of camera and try to include as much detail as you can in your photos. Document the accident, injuries, the scene, debris, damage to vehicles, weather, and road conditions on that day. Take photos from different angles and distances to paint as thoroughly a picture as possible. Hopefully, having documented the scene of the accident in such detail with allowing you to get the insurance reimbursement you want.