Gathering important photo evidence after a car accident

There is a consideration of the physical safety of yourself and all others involved, and an appraisal of the damage to your vehicles. Call our West Long Branch Auto Accident Attorneys Today

When you are in an automobile accident, the immediate aftermath is often a hectic one. The time just after an accident is an important one to be clear-headed, but that’s not always possible. Given adrenaline and other factors making a sense of calm and clarity hard to find after an accident, it is good to be prepared, so you can pull information from a memory bank no matter your stress state and make sure you gather all of the information that will be necessary for you to recover maximum damages. The Insurance Information Institute notes important things to keep in mind, outlined below.

Below are some considerations to add to that memory bank for how to take pictures at an accident scene to build evidence for your claim. The main focus will be on gathering as many angles as possible so that minute details can be captured, providing essential information that subjective accounts often can’t.

Don’t worry about camera quality.

No matter whether you have a cell phone a professional camera, you can gather quality photo evidence. The important pieces are gathering as much photo evidence as possible and including a time and date stamp, so your claim can include the photos as part of its evidence toward recovering as much of your fair share as possible.

Capture multiple angles.

The more information you can bring to your insurance company, the better. Therefore, spare no amount of angles, even if it seems like you are capturing the same thing. Often a detail is captured in one of many frames that has a bearing on the outcome of an auto insurance claim that could not be seen by the photographer at the time of the accident, given their inner state and the number of moving parts that happen in the immediate aftermath of an accident.

Think detail.

Even the smallest detail could make a big impact on determining fault and the financial amount recovered. Take pictures of all aspects of your vehicle, both parts that were damaged as well as parts that we not. Focus especially on the damage done to your vehicle as well as that done to the other vehicles. Take pictures of the scene, including any mile markers and marks on the road created by the accident, as well as any damage to surrounding objects. Any residue from car damage will need to be captured, including glass and broken car parts. While this may be inevitable in the case of rain, make sure to capture weather conditions at the time of the accident, as this could have played a role in the accident.

What else do I do following an automobile accident?

Seek medical care.

Safety always comes first following a car accident. Even if your injuries or those of others involved seem superfluous, call an ambulance if there is any sign of injury, or seek medical attention immediately at the first sign of physical injury symptoms. Not only can this support you on a swift road to recovery and prevent any chronic symptoms from forming, but you can also seek to recover your medical expenses by filing a personal injury claim when you are hurt in an accident.

Stay at the scene of the accident.

According to New Jersey Revised Statutes Title 39, you are legally responsible for staying at the scene of an automobile accident until authorities arrive. Not only is this required by law, but it is also wise to practice to ensure that you gather as much information and evidence as needed to support your claim. While you are waiting for authorities and after you ensure that all involved parties are physically safe, begin to document the accident with your phone or camera. When giving your report to police, be as objective as possible in relaying the course of events leading up to the accident from your perspective, and be sure not to admit fault.

Exchange contact and insurance information with all other drivers who were in the accident.

It is imperative to have the information of all involved parties; it is likely the first thing you will share with your insurance agent when you file an accident claim. Though they may have not had a direct impact on damage to your vehicle, their presence and testimony may play a role in what you are able to claim for damages to your physical body and vehicle.

Consult an Experienced Car Accident Injury Law Firm in Monmouth County NJ

At Chamlin, Uliano & Walsh, our skilled team supports drivers in Red Bank, Freehold, Long Branch, and Monmouth County in all accident matters, including claiming their fair share of damages that resulted from an accident.

Our unique approach focuses on being the qualified point of contact with our clients’ insurance companies and those of other parties involved in the accident so that they can focus on rest and recovery.

For a comprehensive assessment of your car accident, please contact us online, or through our West Long Branch office at 732-440-3950. We look forward to supporting you.