Importance Of Taking Pictures After An Accident

The attorneys of Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C., in Virginia Beach have helped injured people with their accident claims for over 30 years. We know that photographs can be one of the most powerful and persuasive forms of evidence in an accident claim.

If you have been involved in an accident, be sure to comprehensively document the scene and schedule a free consultation with our team as soon as possible. Right after a car accident can be extremely disorienting and confusing, our car accident attorneys understand this and have offered our most most frequently asked question about car accidents to help you through the process. Our car accident lawyers serve clients in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton and Chesapeake, and throughout the Tidewater area.

Why Car Accident Photos Are Important

Photographs are one of the best forms of evidence in an accident claim. An accident can be a chaotic and confusing time. Photos can help you document what happened. If you have been involved in an accident, you may not have time to notice important details know what to look for in the aftermath of the incident. By taking photos, you can preserve important details for future analysis.
An accident claim is built on details. Photos can help provide them. Where did the accident take place? How was a victim injured? How did witnesses respond? What were the surrounding conditions? Insurance companies and other investigators will ask all these questions and more. Photos will give them the concrete details they need. By taking photos of the accident, you may help speed up your claim and your recovery of compensation. Photos might also resolve questions about who was to blame for causing the crash.
In many cases, accident victims don’t take the important photos they should. That leaves investigators to piece together what happened using other evidence. This could make proving your claim more difficult and more complicated. When you’re trying to prove a claim, it’s always better to have clear photos of the accident and its details.
Don’t wait to take photos. If you’re able to take photos, it may be tempting to wait. Accidents can be stressful and upsetting events. Victims often want to leave the scene as soon as they can. The truth is that accident scenes change quickly. If you return later for photos, conditions may not be the same. Lighting, road conditions, skid marks, broken glass – all of these elements may drastically change by the time you return. If you can, photograph the accident and its details immediately.

How to Take Useful Photos After a Car Accident

Keep the following suggestions in mind when you are photographing the scene of an accident. By following these guidelines, you are helping yourself build a stronger claim:

Take Many Photos – Too many photos are always better than too few. Don’t worry about having to go through mountains of photos later on. Claim investigators will examine the photos and search for the important details. Two similar photos can reveal different details about the same accident scene.
Details and Close-ups – It’s important to leave accident details undisturbed. However, if you can, get close to accident details and photograph them. Many cameras have a zoom function that you can use to get close-up shots without risking another accident. In an auto accident, license plates and other details can prove vital to your case. If the photo is taken from too far away, those details may be lost.
Wide Shots Tell a Story – Wide shots of the accident scene and the surrounding area will help give your accident context. Lighting, weather, and road conditions should all be photographed.
Show the Facts – Use your judgment on what would be helpful. Photograph everything you think may help. Investigators will take care of finding the most helpful photographs for your claim.

What You Should Photograph at a Car Accident Scene

The following is a list of certain things that you can make sure to document:

Injuries – Take photos of your injuries. Bruising, cuts, and other injuries will heal with time. Medical treatment may hide the injuries later on. If you are capable, take photos of your injury as soon as you can after the accident.
Accident Scene – Take plenty of photos to document the accident scene. Details are everywhere in an accident, and if you are the victim, you can easily miss them. In a car accident, things like the location of car parts or skid marks may hold important information for your case. You may be stressed and dealing with an injury while you wait for emergency services. It’s easy to miss or forget key details. Photos may help you capture details you didn’t know were important at the time.
Location and Surroundings – Be sure to photograph the accident scene and the area around it. If you’re injured in a car accident, photograph traffic signals and Be sure to photograph any weather or conditions around the scene that may have created dangerous conditions.
Witnesses, Emergency Responders, and Others Involved – Be sure to photograph everyone who was involved in the accident, witnessed the accident, or responded to it. These details can help investigators get to the bottom of who knew what and when.

Time, Date, and Location of Photos

Photos are some of the most important evidence in a claim. What you may not realize is that information about the photos is also important. Time and date stamps on a photo can help investigators verify that a photo was taken at a specific accident. Location services built into smartphones may also log the location of where you took the photo. When taking photos, make sure your smartphone or camera is capturing not just the photo, but all of the important information around it.

If You Can’t Take Photos, Get Someone You Trust to Do It

It’s always best to take photos yourself if you can, but sometimes injuries are too severe. If you’re injured in an accident, your life and your health should be your top priority. Perhaps someone you know and trust is nearby and can assist you. Whenever possible, you, or someone you trust, should capture photos of the accident scene, its surroundings, and its aftermath.

Take Photos of Your Accident, Then Call Us

Any accident can be stressful and confusing. Don’t take chances with an accident. Take photos. Photographs and video could help you protect and prove your claim.

Ruloff, Swain, Haddad, Morecock, Talbert & Woodward, P.C., has represented clients with nearly every type of accident claim for over 30 years. We know what it takes to prove a claim, and we know how to help you. If you’re injured in an accident, take photos of the accident and then contact us for a free consultation. We’re ready to help you.