Why It’s Always Best to Take Photos of Both Cars After an Accident

Even the most minor car accidents can leave you feeling shaken and traumatized. When you’re involved in a collision, the best way to protect your rights is to make sure you gather plenty of evidence as soon as possible. Even if you feel fine at the moment, many people find that, once the shock wears off, their injuries are more severe than they realized.

One key part of gathering evidence is to take photos after an accident in Santa Rosa, CA. Not only should you take photos of your car and your injuries, but it’s smart to get as many photos as possible of the other vehicles involved, as well as the general surroundings at the scene of the accident. The more evidence you have, the better insurance adjusters, experts and juries will be able to determine who was at fault. Read on to learn why gathering photo evidence is so important.

Taking photos of the accident scene and vehicles

Even if you’re sure that you won’t need to file a personal injury claim, you should still thoroughly document the accident. Your cell phone camera is ideal—most people have them handy at all times, but any available camera will do:

• The scene: First, take photos of the accident scene from multiple angles. This will help document the conditions of the road, the exact location, how many people were around the scene and more. You may find this especially helpful for refreshing your recollection about the accident. It will also help juries and insurance adjusters determine if there are other mitigating circumstances that need to be taken into account.
• Your vehicle: Take photos of your vehicle from various angles. Get close-ups of the damage, but make sure to take wide-angle shots as well. This will help determine who is at fault and the extent of the damage. Make sure to take interior shots, particularly if you or your passengers bled in the car or were thrown against the windows or windshield.
• The other vehicles: Getting photos of the other vehicles involved will paint a more robust picture for adjusters and juries. The more information you can present, the better they’ll be able to figure out who is at fault. Not only that, but insurance companies love to argue that the car accident didn’t have enough impact to cause you injury. Having pictures of the other driver’s damaged vehicle will help you show that the accident was, in fact, significant enough to injure you.
• Debris or obstacles: If there were any obstacles in the road that may have contributed to the accident, get photos of them as soon as possible.
• Injuries: Finally, make sure to document your injuries right after the crash. As you heal (or as further injuries develop), get evidence of them. Many injuries take a day or two to become visible or otherwise apparent.

When it comes to car accidents, the more evidence you have, the better. If you’re unable to take photos due to your injuries, ask that a passenger or witness take some for you. For more information about why you should take car accident photos in Santa Rosa, CA, or to file a personal injury claim following an accident, reach out to The Law Offices of Max G. Arnold, Inc. today.

Categorised in: Personal Injury Lawyer