Cell phone cameras make it easy to capture photos of the scene and other details of a collision, vandalism or other acts causing damage to your car. Keep this handy checklist in your car with your vehicle registration.
Take photos only when safe and makes sense to do so. After an accident, the most important thing is the safety of anyone who was injured. Immediately call 911 to report the accident and any injuries.
Try to take pictures of:
- Your car, and the damage it sustained from different angels (shot using 4 corners of your car as guides)
- Airbags, if deployed
- The other cars involved in the accident, and the damage sustained
- Any skid marks
- Any vehicle parts, shattered glass, or other debris that may have fallen onto the road. Close up pictures are best shot from about 1.5 meters (5 feet) away
- The accident scene and vehicle placement (intersection, parking lot, or other location & where the vehicles came to rest)
- Traffic indicators such as traffic lights, and yield or stop signs.
- Damaged objects caused by the accident such as damaged street signs, guardrails, trees, or other stationary objects
- Weather conditions – rain, falling snow, ice on roadway etc
- Visible bodily injuries to you, your passengers, and other parties if practical and the people consent to being photographed
- Driver’s license and vehicle registration – both yours and the other driver’s
- Witness contact information or photo id (only with consent)
Share the photos with Insurer and Repair Facility