What Types of Photos Should I Take After a Car Accident?

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When you receive injuries from a car accident, you likely are incurring significant expenses from your medical bills, lost wages, and car damages, among other damages. This is why it is important to file a personal injury claim to receive the financial compensation that you deserve. And to prove your claim, you must have sufficient photos of the scene of the accident and your injuries. Follow along to learn what types of photos you should take after your car accident and how a proficient St. Mary’s County car accident lawyer at The Dorsey Law Firm can help you through this process. 

What kinds of photos do I take after a car accident?

First of all, you must take photos of every car involved in the accident. Try to do so before moving your cars to the side of the road, if safe. This should be done regardless of whether or not the cars have visible damages, as you want to capture the following:

  • All the cars’ license plate numbers.
  • All the cars’ makes, models, colors, etc.
  • All the cars’ windshields (i.e., there was something on the rearview mirror obstructing a driver’s view).

Next, you must take photos of the scene of the accident itself. Both close-ups and distant shots should shed a light on the series of events that led to your accident. Examples of what these shots should capture include the following:

  • The location of the accident and its immediate surroundings.
  • The speed and force of the cars colliding.
  • The direction the cars were moving.
  • Any noticeable skid marks on the road.
  • Any severe weather conditions (i.e., snow or rain).
  • Any hazardous road conditions (i.e., ice, potholes, construction, or fallen objects).
  • Any obstructions to traffic signs (i.e., trees or graffiti).
  • Any defects to traffic signals (i.e., faulty stoplights).

Lastly, you must take photos of the injuries you received from the accident. Ideally, you must do this before they heal so that you can capture the severity of them. Also, you must take photos of any medical devices that your doctor prescribed to you, such as the following:

  • An arm sling or cast.
  • A cervical collar.
  • A cane, crutches, or wheelchair.

What else should I do after a car accident?

Once your photos are handled, you should take the following steps immediately afterward:

  1. Call 911: do this so that a law enforcement officer can conduct a police report and dispatch an ambulance onto the scene.
  2. Exchange contact information: ask the other drivers for their name, phone number, driver’s license number, insurance company name, insurance policy number, etc. Ask for the name and number of witnesses, as well. 
  3. Seek medical treatment: do this at the scene and the hospital so that your medical conditions can be documented.
  4. Hire a talented St. Mary’s County auto accident lawyer: do this before Maryland’s statute of limitations, which is usually three years from the date of your accident.

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Contact The Dorsey Law Firm today to schedule your free initial consultation with our seasoned & dedicated personal injury lawyers.