You’re going to turn right at the intersection as you travel between New York City avenues. You are suddenly confronted by a Pontiac Grand Am black car. What should you do? You should maintain your calm and composure, and check for any injuries to you and the other driver. It is a good idea to call the police and pull the Accident Scene Information Checklist out of your glove compartment. But, the documentation and police reports that are required for car insurance claims might not be accurate. Photographs of accident scenes are important.
A disposable camera phone or digital camera is easy to carry in your glove bag, considering the abundance of them on the market. You can use the camera to capture the accident scene, paying particular attention to distances as well as angles. Take pictures from different angles once you have gotten out of the car. If the sun shines on your car, it will cause the camera to be blocked. The rule of the trade is that you should take photos from three different angles and distances. Close-up shots should be taken within a distance of 3 to 5 feet, and the next distance between 10 and 15 feet. You should also take a photograph from 20-40ft to capture the whole accident scene. Keep a landmark, i.e. something within the immediate area, in every photograph to maintain continuity.
If your film camera runs out of film, you can still take great pictures. Every picture should give a glimpse of what happened, and capture the surroundings as well as the vehicle’s condition. Digital cameras are useful in that you can view and edit photos, as well as delete unwanted ones. If the image is not good, delete it and try again from a different angle.
You are not the star of this show! It’s also a good idea take pictures of any car that has been hit by you. You should take photos of both cars, with the landmark intact, in their damaged positions. This is especially important if you are at fault for the accident. Drivers can use picture proof to protect themselves against other drivers trying to claim additional damages.
It’s also a smart idea to take photos of the area where the accident occurred. It will not only refresh your memory but also tell the insurance agents about the accident. In case of evidence at court, take photos of streets names and traffic signs. Also, take pictures of skid marks. You can blow up your photos later if your digital camera isn’t strong enough. If you don’t see any skid marks, it could be an indication that the other person was not paying enough attention to brake.
Take photos of any bodily injuries such as cuts, bruises, marks on the face and other minor ones. For the best results, make sure you capture them from the correct angle or distance. These pictures will speed up your auto insurance claim. Many insurance companies offer free disposable cameras to policyholders who are so obsessed with photos.
It all in a Nutshell
* →Keep a digital camera in your car. You can either do that, or keep a disposable camera in your glove box.
* →Take pictures from three different angles and distances: 3-5 feet, 10-15 feet, and 20-40 feet (accident scene & surrounding area)
* →Snap pictures of all vehicles involved
* →Snap pictures of the road/intersection along with street and traffic signs
* →Pay attention to skid marks! This is evidence the opposing driver didn’t pay enough attention to brakes
