How to Create Photographic Evidence of a Car Accident

If you're involved in a car accidents, photos will help you when you file any insurance claims. Follow these steps to cover everything.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Have a camera with you in your car at all times. It may not be practical to always carry your camera with you in the car and the camera on your cell phone may take poor pictures which cannot be extracted from the camera. Instead keep a cheap disposable camera in your glove box, so your always prepared.

2. Take pictures of the damage to your car, any other cars and other property damaged by you or another driver. In addition, take pictures of any injuries suffered in the accident. You'll need a complete record of your role in the accident and the role of any other drivers involved. Take pictures of the cars as a whole and close-ups of the damage.

3. Shoot a picture of each registration plate of all the cars involved in the accident. This will cover you in case you get the wrong information or in case another party leaves the scene.

4. Get an overview picture of the entire accident including all cars and the road. Also, take pictures of any road signs which may have been a factor in the accident.

5. Record any details which might have contributed to the accident such as frost, ice or precipitation. Make sure you get a shot that clearly shows the weather conditions at the time of the accident.

Tips & Warnings

• Film deteriorates with time and with extreme temperatures. Once a year, take out your disposable camera, use it for general pictures and place a fresh disposable camera in your car.
• Do not store a non-disposable camera in your car permanently. Both digital and film cameras could be damaged by temperature extremes.
• Do not reply on police pictures of the car accident. It might be difficult to obtain them from the police.