No one likes to think about being in a car accident. But given that you may not be thinking clearly after an accident, it is important to familiarize yourself with some basic steps you can take in the aftermath in order to best protect yourself later on.
Whether regarding an insurance claim or a lawsuit, the more evidence you have to back up your understanding of the events, the better.
Of course, immediately following an accident you should make sure that you, your passengers, and the occupants of other vehicles are okay.
Call 911 to report the accident to the police, as well as to call emergency vehicles if needed.
The health and well-being of the people involved in the accident are of most importance. But there is one other easy step that many people forget in these circumstances.
Although relatively simple, taking accident photos can make all the difference in your insurance claim.
What Car Accident Photos Should You Take?
- The Position of the Cars: If possible to take photos of the cars as the collided and came to rest, do so. Often it is safest to move the vehicles to the side of the road out of oncoming traffic, but if you have the opportunity to safely take the shot, do so.
- The Condition of the Cars: Take photos of any damage to your car caused by the accident, as well as any damage to the other car. Having proof of damage can help you with insurance claims and could help in your defense in the case of a lawsuit.
- The Lay of the Land: Take photos of the scene of the accident as it pertains to the roads, speed limits, traffic flow as well as any stop signs or traffic signals. These may help to determine the validity of statements made regarding how the accident occurred and who was at fault. (Remember, Florida is a no-fault state, but there are circumstances and exceptions whereby lawsuits may be filed.)
- Anything Out of Place: If there is anything that may have played a role in the accident, document it with a photo. This may include a pothole, debris in the road, or an animal that ran out into traffic. You may also wish to take photos of skid marks which will help to determine speed and direction the cars were traveling.
- Possible Witnesses: Although you shouldn’t take it upon yourself to speak to them, taking photos of nearby businesses may help in a later investigation. These businesses may have security camera footage or even an eyewitness to the accident.
Overall, fully documents the scene with accident photos will help your personal injury attorney to recreate the scene and determine your level of fault – or someone else’s level of negligence. Because the scene of an accident is generally cleared fairly quickly, important evidence can be lost forever – but in the age of smartphones, you may be able to snap a photo which saves you time and money.
The attorneys of Probinsky & Cole have helped to secure insurance payouts for hundreds of car accident victims in the Sarasota area. If you have been in a car accident and are unsure as to how to proceed, contact us first.
We will call the insurance company and represent your interests right from the beginning. Don’t go it alone – give us a call.
