My Car Is Wrecked, Should I Take Pictures?
Yes!
Your attorney will be able to use them to show the severity of the accident and demonstrate the seriousness of your injuries. Pictures can sometimes be the difference between obtaining a reasonable settlement and being forced to carry a case through litigation.
Try to get at least a few pictures of each side of your vehicle. An excellent way to do this is to walk around your car with a camera or camera phone and snap pictures. But remember, while pictures are important, safety is a much bigger priority after your accident.
The Key Things to Keep in Mind While Snapping Photos
If you want to take photos of your car accident, keep in mind that the police will likely use them at some point. Make sure you don’t leave anything behind that could incriminate you. Also, if you’re going to photograph your car, make sure you have the owner’s permission first.
What to Photograph At Your Auto Accident Scene
A camera phone will usually suffice. If you don’t have one, ask someone nearby if they would mind taking photos of the damage for you.
If you were injured in the crash, make sure you document any visible injury. This includes cuts, bruises, scrapes, broken bones, etc. You may also want to photograph any medical treatment you received.
The first thing I recommend photographing at the scene of an accident is where the crash occurred. This will help the police determine if it was a road traffic collision (RTC) or a pedestrian/cyclist collision (PC). If it was an RTC, take pictures of the car, the road surface, any vehicles involved, the surrounding area, etc. If it was a PC, take photos of the place where the incident happened and the people who witnessed it. It may seem obvious, but this information could prove vital to the investigation.
Documenting the Damage To Your Vehicle
When documenting the damage to your vehicle, try to focus on things that won’t change over time. For example, write down the type of damage to your windshield, hood, bumper, fender, tires, etc. These parts of your vehicle are often used by the police when investigating accidents.
Photographing Injuries From Your Crash
Take photos of any visible injuries from your car accident. Include cuts, bruises, scraped knees, etc. Remember, you may need to provide these images to your doctor and surgeon later on. They may even request copies of the photos.
Photographs Can Help You Get Medical Treatment
Take photos of any medical treatments you receive. This includes X-rays, stitches, bandages, etc. Again, this information might come in handy during your
Jot Down Some Notes Of The Accident Scene
Write down everything you know about your car accident, including what happened, who was at fault, and witnesses. This will help you build a strong case against your insurer if they don’t payout.
Things like the condition of the road, weather conditions, and other factors can affect how serious your injuries are. Write down these details as well so you can include them in your claim.
Report the accident and file your claim immediately
The first step is to report the incident to the police. If you don’t know where to start, call your local police department and ask them for advice. They will usually give you a form to complete so they can record details of the crash. Insurance companies will usually need a copy of this form.
Next, you should contact your insurer to let them know what has happened. This will start the claims process with the company that handles your auto insurance. They will usually help arrange for the car to be taken to an authorized body shop. The insurance company will also dispatch an insurance adjuster or claims adjuster to evaluate the damages, and also try to determine the at-fault driver.
How long should I wait before calling an accident lawyer?
The answer depends on how badly hurt you are and what kind of damage you sustained. It is best to call an accident lawyer within 24 hours of the accident. However, if you need more time to recover, you can always delay until 48 hours.
The longer you wait, the less compensation you will receive in most cases. So if you think you might need legal representation, call an accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. The Dolman Law Group is here to help. We have been helping injured drivers for many years, and we can help you too!
Call us now at 866-481-5347