While you were enjoying a sunny day, Fred Fuddle, a local figure from a nearby village, suddenly accelerated along the road drunkenly in his pickup and crashed into your vehicle. He was impossible to avoid. It is now time to settle your personal injury and property damage claims. Let’s start with photographs. This is the first thing that should be done – as soon as possible after the impact has occurred.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF INJURIES – Photographs can often be the most powerful evidence that you have to support your claim. Photographs of bodily injuries visible from an accident are crucial to increasing the settlement value. To capture the seriousness and importance of their existence, take them as close as possible. I guarantee that Adjuster I. M. Smart of Granite Insurance Company will stare at the items and then blanch when you give them to him.
Question: How does Dan know that this is true?
Answer: “Because Dan was there and felt it for 38 years”
PHOTOGRAPHS OF BOTH VECTORS: Take photographs from multiple angles of the damage to your vehicle. If possible, take photos of the damage to your vehicle from all angles. These photographs may prove to be valuable when it comes to proving the damage your body sustained (and in some cases, to proving who was at fault).
HOW TO PHOTOGRAPHS AN ACCIDENT SCENE. Take photos from at least three angles. Snap several shots of the accident scene from approximately 20-40 feet away. Next, snap a few more shots from between 10 and 15 feet. Finally, take some close-up shots from 3 to 5 foot. If possible, all three distances should share a common point of view or orientation. Photographs of skid marks should be taken at an angle that clearly shows where they are relative to landmarks such as a building, street sign or fire hydrant. A second photograph should be taken, with a closer view, to clearly identify the skid mark. If possible, it should also include this landmark or object (street signs, buildings, etc. ).
These are such powerful evidence that you should make 8X10 glossies of the photographs of skid marks taken between 3 and 6 feet away. There are only 12-15 photographs of the accident scene or the skid marks. It will increase the value and worthiness of your claim if you give the adjuster copies of the 8X10 glossy photographs of those skid marks.
“Why?” you ask?
Answer: “Because it tells adjuster Smart (who in the end will usually call the shots about how much your settlement dollars should go) that you are knowledgeable and not a person who can be taken advantage.
A WORD OF CAUTION. When taking photographs of you, your accident scene, or other parts of your body, be sure to not act casually, have a hasty, or careless attitude. They should also avoid allowing the camera to do all the thinking. The photographer should take the time to think through the entire process carefully and then produce high-quality photos.
Photographs of the exact spot on the road where the impact occurred should be taken, along with photos of any gouge or chop marks on the surface. Also, make sure to take traffic signs and other pertinent information, if possible.
Photographs of skid marks are a valuable evidence. They can indicate Fuddle’s speed at impact, and can also be used to establish fault.
It is a good idea to write a short note on all photos. This will include a brief description of the photo, its date, and who took it.
If taken correctly, photographs of injuries, accident scene, and road surface are money in the bank!
