Along with the risk of injuries and vehicle damage, there's usually substantial activity at the scene with the arrival of law enforcement, witnesses, and onlookers, among others.
Before the accident site becomes overly chaotic, it's important to take pictures promptly after the accident to document the scene in its original state. These photographs could be valuable in the future for narrating the sequence of events during the collision, and they might also support your claims when filing for damages.
Capture the Cars Involved
Capturing photographic proof of the vehicles involved in the accident is crucial. Concrete evidence, as opposed to verbal accounts, often provides a more accurate depiction of who was responsible for the car mishap. For instance, a dent from where another vehicle hit yours could serve as indisputable evidence to establish the other driver's fault.
Therefore, it's essential to maintain the original state of this tangible evidence for your injury claim. Preserve all physical evidence just as it was at the time of the accident. If this isn't feasible, make sure to photograph the damage. Take shots of both your car and the other vehicles involved to document all damage thoroughly. Physical items and photographs are generally harder to refute compared to oral recollections of an event.
Snap Different Angles and Distances
When snapping numerous photographs, consider varying your angles and distances for a comprehensive view. For close-up shots, position yourself within a range of one to five feet from the subject. Middle-distance photos should be captured from about 10 to 15 feet away. To depict the full accident scene and illustrate how the collision happened, take a photo from a distance of 20 feet or more. A Charleston car accident lawyer may find these photographs useful in accurately recreating the accident.
Skid Marks
The presence of skid marks and debris dispersed around the crash site can be highly informative for your claim. Skid marks can provide insights into:
● The vehicle's speed before the collision
● Its braking trajectory
● Whether it experienced a skid during the incident
These facts can serve as strong evidence of the other driver's irresponsibility, thereby enhancing your case. Images of the wreckage from the accident can also specify the exact point of the incident. This becomes notably beneficial if the vehicles had to be repositioned to a safer spot by law enforcement officials, as it helps maintain the integrity of the original scene.
Damage to Additional Properties
It's possible that the belongings of the drivers or passengers from the implicated vehicles, as well as external properties, may have sustained damage. One should inspect items such as lampposts, street sidewalks, trees, guardrails, signs, and other immovable objects that could have been affected by the accident.
If substantial damage is detected to any items in your vehicle, take photographs for insurance claim purposes. Child safety seat manufacturers suggest replacing these seats after any sort of collision, regardless of their severity. Most insurance companies will shoulder the expense of a new seat. Thus, it's advantageous to have a photo, even if there's no visible damage.
Capture Images of Essential Documents
Accumulating vital data at the scene of an accident is a necessity. This encompasses the insurance particulars and driver’s license digits of all the other drivers involved in the collision. Recording these details, especially during moments of high stress, could result in numerical errors. Additionally, there's a possibility of losing the written record at places like the police station, hospital, or any other location after the accident.
Endnote
Accurately capturing a car accident in photographs is critical when dealing with personal injury claims. By adhering to the advice given in this guide, you can create robust visual evidence to back your case. Always seek advice from a seasoned personal injury lawyer to ensure your rights are upheld and to receive expert assistance during the entire legal procedure.
