How to Photograph an Accident Scene

Once you are safe and you’ve exchanged information, it’s time to put your smartphone to work. It might help to think of your photos as “telling the story” of the accident.

First and foremost, make sure you are safe while taking photos. Be mindful of oncoming traffic and only take photos from a safe location. Lighting can affect your photos, so you may want to take pictures both with and without the flash.

Here are some more tips to capture the accident scene:

• Take pictures from multiple angles. You want to capture all sides of the cars involved in the accident. Make sure your photos capture all four corners of each car. Take pictures of the damage and any leaking fluids.
• Give the picture a sense of scale. For example, if you’re photographing a dent or scrape marks on your fender, it can help to use an object like a coin or a key to give a sense of scale.
• Take pictures from more than one distance. If possible (and safe), stand at least 10 feet away from your car, the other car(s) and/or any other object that you may have collided with (like a street sign). Gradually move towards the point of collision, taking more photos as you get closer.
• Take pictures of the surrounding area. Take photos of the street. If the accident happened at an intersection, it’s a good idea to capture any street signs or traffic signals. If there are any skid marks or gouge marks left on the pavement or dirt, take pictures.
• Take pictures of any damage to the car’s interior. This might include deployed airbags and shattered glass.
• Take pictures of your injuries. If you are able, take pictures of any scrapes, cuts or bruises. This might come in handy if you need to file an injury claim.
• Take pictures of any other items that will help tell the story. For example, if there was an object in the road that may have contributed to the accident, like a pothole, road construction or debris that caused a driver to swerve.

After you photograph the accident scene, take pictures of other items that can come in handy. Here are some suggestions:

• License plates. Get pictures of the license plates of every car involved in the accident. If there are any witnesses, it’s a good idea to get a photo of their license plate, which may be useful for the police or your insurance company if the witness leaves the scene early.
• Insurance documents. When you exchange insurance information, it’s a good idea to ask to take a photo of the other driver’s insurance insurance. Make sure you capture the company and policy number.
• Police report. If the police respond to the scene and write an initial crash report, take a picture of it. While your insurance company may need a certified copy of the report which can take days, a photo of the report may help speed up the claims process.

After You Document the Accident

Next is starting an insurance claim. You can call your insurance company while you’re at the accident scene, or wait until you get home. Your claims representative will ask you questions about the accident and walk you through the claims process.

If you have comprehensive insurance, file a claim through your car insurance company for repair. You’ll be responsible for paying your excess. If the other driver was at fault, you can file a claim against the other driver’s liability insurance for property damage and injuries.

Source: Forbes