The Most Important Car Accident Photos to Take

If you are not too seriously injured, take photos of the accident as soon as possible after the crash occurs, before either car is even moved. If you have to move the cars to the side of the road, take the photos at that point. If you are injured but another person in your vehicle is not, ask if they can take these photos. Sometimes this is not possible, and that’s okay. Securing photos of the accident in situ can go a long way when proving fault.

Document every single bit of damage to your vehicle. This can be done on-site if you aren’t injured, or later when the vehicle has moved to an alternative location. Take pictures of the vehicle from a distance to document damage as a whole, and also take close-up pictures of each section of the vehicle, or each portion of damage. For example, take photos of a broken headlight from several different angles, and take photos of scratches or dents as well. All damage should be documented photographically.

Some of the most important photos you can take are of your injuries. This can be ongoing: take pictures of the injury when it was fresh and throughout the healing process. If possible, take photos of your injuries before you exit the vehicle or at the site of the accident. If you’ve been transported to the hospital, ask a friend, family member, or even a nurse to take photos of your injuries for you. As you heal, be sure to take photos and document the healing process, so it can be noted how long it took to heal, if there are permanent scars, etc.