You often hear car accidents described as “it all happened so quickly.” Because we tend to not remember the exact details of a car crash, we must rely on physical evidence to give us a clue into what happened, and who might be responsible for the crash if you need to pursue legal action.
Photographs are a great way to help tell the story of a car accident without having to rely on the not-so-reliable memories of those involved in the crash. The camera you use doesn’t have to be fancy (an iPhone or other smartphone would work just fine), but you do need to make sure the photos clearly show damage and have good lighting.
When you’re taking car accident pictures, be sure to include the following shots so that they can be used as valuable evidence in a personal injury case.
EXTERIOR DAMAGE
It’s likely that the most damage in a car accident will be done to the exterior of the car, so be sure to get every angle you possibly can of the wreckage. It’s important to not only get the exterior shots of your car but each vehicle that was involved in the accident.
SHOTS OF LOCATION
Take several pictures of the location of the car crash, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area where you were driving (you’d be surprised at how quickly those details can disappear from your mind). When you take photos of the location of the crash, you want others to be able to recreate the scene; so try to get several angles, and capture the intersection where the accident happened, and other landmarks that are nearby.
INTERIOR DAMAGE
Although most car accident damage affects the exterior of the car, it’s possible that the interior of your car could get damaged as well. Take photographs of any damage that happened inside your car, and if possible, photograph any damage that occurred in any other vehicles in the accident. If they object to their car being photographed, don’t push it too much or overstep your boundaries.
PROPERTY DAMAGE
It’s entirely possible that during the car accident there was some damage to property other than the cars (such as street signs, fences, medians, etc.). Be sure to take any pictures of property damage or debris littered in the street that was there due to the accident.
The most important thing to remember about taking care of accident pictures is to not post them on any type of social media or show them to anyone until you have consulted with a lawyer.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Georgia, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, property damage, or lost wages. To determine if legal action is in your best interest, contact the Fry | Goehring today at (404) 948-3571 for more information and to set up a consultation.
