Importance of Taking Photos After a Car Accident

Smartphones may be distracting to drivers when behind the wheel, but they are very handy for taking photos after a car accident. After using your phone to report an accident and summon police, use the phone camera to take photos of the accident scene, including damage to the vehicles, skid marks on the pavement, position of traffic signals, and your injuries. You cannot take too many photos. Taking pictures to document your car accident can help protect your rights and provide crucial evidence to support your car accident compensation claim after an accident. For help understanding your legal rights to seek compensation after a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, contact a Boston car accident lawyer as soon as possible after a car accident occurs.

Pictures Are an Important Type of Evidence

After a car accident, gathering evidence to back your accident claim is extremely important. The types of evidence that can be used to prove fault or damages include:

Police reports.
Witness testimony.
Video footage.
Doctors’ reports.
Photos.

In fact, pictures are arguably among the most important types of evidence to have.

Taking Photos Can Prove Injuries, Damages and Explain How an Accident Occurred

A photograph, as the old saying goes, is worth a thousand words. If the insurance adjuster does not believe what you tell them about how bad your injuries are, a picture of those injuries can substantiate your accident claim. If the other driver involved in the accident claims that the collision did not cause any damage to your vehicle, a picture taken at the accident scene can show the extent of the damage. Photos can do more than just show damage after a collision. They can provide evidence as to how an accident occurred. Consider a set of photos that capture rainy weather, skid marks, and a yield sign at an intersection. These may all be an indication that an accident occurred because a driver failed to yield, was traveling too fast for conditions, or tried to brake suddenly. A photo showing a lack of skid marks that indicate that a driver was distracted and did not brake before a collision. Photos that show damage to a certain area of a vehicle also can be indicative of fault. You cannot take too many photos.

What Happens When You Do Not Take Photos?

If you do not take photos, the insurance company representing the at-fault driver may dispute how the accident happened and who should be responsible. It may come down to your word against that of the other driver. A lack of documentation of your injuries – especially if you did not seek medical care immediately – may be inferred by an insurance adjuster as a lack of documented injuries. The failure to photograph damages at the scene of the accident, such as skid marks, may make it hard to prove that one of the drivers involved slammed on their brakes in an attempt to stop their vehicle suddenly.

Try to Take Photos of Everything Relating to the Accident

In addition to taking photos of the accident scene, damages to vehicle, the weather, and your injuries, you should take photos of witnesses, witnesses’ information, and the responding police officer and their badge number/information. If you do not, you may forget these details. A crash can be traumatic, and it is not uncommon to suffer from some memory loss after a serious accident. Amnesia is common among people who sustain serious head injuries in a collision Having photos can help you recall who to contact for statements and how an accident happened.

What If I Am Unable to Take Photos After a Car Accident?

The best time to take accident photographs is immediately after the accident while you are waiting for the police to arrive and before the vehicles are moved. Obviously taking photos at the accident scene is not always possible. A car accident victim’s injuries may be so severe that the individual requires immediate emergency medical care. If you are unable to take photos after your car accident, ask someone else if they can do it. There are some other options as well. For example, there is a good chance that someone else at the scene of the accident took photos. This might include investigators or police officers who respond to the car accident, the other driver involved in the car accident, or even witnesses to the car accident. A thorough investigation can help to track down these parties and request access to photos that they may have. Depending upon where the accident occurred, a traffic cam or business’s security camera may have even caught the accident on tape or collected some photos. It is also possible that a family member or friend will take the initiative to go to the scene of the accident and take photos upon hearing that you have been in a crash. If you hire an attorney – or if your family contacts an attorney on your behalf – the attorney or their investigative team will likely attempt to collect photographic evidence as soon as possible.

Contact Our Boston Car Accident Lawyers for Help

Car accidents and other personal injury claims can be complicated. If you have been in a crash in Boston and have questions about how to proceed after a car accident, talking to an experienced car accident lawyer can help you understand your legal options and allow you to make informed decisions with your financial future in mind. At Michael Kelly Injury Lawyers, our Boston car accident attorneys know how to help car accident victims maximize the settlements they receive after a serious accident caused by the negligence of others. Our legal team includes two talented trial lawyers who are committed to helping clients seek the maximum amount of compensation allowed under the law. For a free case consultation with our team today, call us now or use our online form to schedule your first meeting!

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MICHAEL D. KELLY, ESQ

Michael D. Kelly has a diverse background that provides a breadth of legal knowledge that he draws upon in serving his clients. Kelly compiled an excellent academic record during his three years at New England Law in Boston.