If you were involved in a car accident, you know how disconcerting the experience can be. Whether injured or not, your first priority should always be your health and safety. Seek medical attention immediately for yourself and others involved in an accident and remember that not all injuries are visible or immediately felt.
However, if you are able to take photos of the accident scene, it can help enormously should you need to go to court for compensation. In fact, even if you do not go to court, photos provide valuable information that your attorney can use to negotiate a settlement. There is more than one way of seeking and receiving compensation, and your attorney can explain these in detail.
What to Capture
The most important things to capture are:
- The accident scene
- Any vehicle damage
- Injuries
- License plates
- Insurance information
Timing is key
It is critical to capture photos and videos as soon as you are able. If that means right after the accident– that is preferred. However, again, you must focus on making sure you are healthy. After that, capture images, take videos and take notes of everything you remember–all of this before your vehicle is repaired. This is critical because once you take the vehicle in for repair, and many insurance companies insist on doing that quickly, you could be erasing critical evidence.
Your health and safety are paramount, as is the health and safety of anyone else involved in an accident. Yet, it is imperative to keep in mind the importance and necessity of evidence, particularly photographic evidence, after a car accident. In today’s world where everyone owns a smartphone, you can easily capture video evidence of the scene, the vehicles, any property affected or destroyed and any injuries sustained.
Warning: Do not post pictures, or any information about your car accident, on social media. Insurance companies do view that information and may use it against you.
Once you have all of this, make sure you meet with your attorney and do not negotiate with insurance companies, as they will almost always offer you less than what you would receive if your attorney negotiates a settlement for you.