This is a short check-list for what you should photograph with your cell phone, immediately after an accident:
1. The positions of vehicles, from far enough away to show how and where they came to rest, relative to the roadway and any substantial features in the immediate area.
2. The general scene, including all vehicles and elements if possible, from all available elevated positions, structures or higher vehicles, preferably showing the whole scene.
3. The 4 sides and 4 corners of each vehicle and/or trailer, individually, from far enough away to show the whole side of the two sides forming a corner.
4. The damages to each vehicle or trailer, from at least three angles and from a higher angle, from far enough to show the vehicle clearly and from close enough to show the damages properly, if possible.
5. The license disks and/or licence plates, signage, branding and the make and model of each vehicle and all trailers involved.
6. The vehicle/s of attending services (law enforcement unit/s, ambulances and/or fire services, towing and recovery units) and any other services and private vehicles present.
7. Any road surface evidence, like scratch marks, gouges, deposits and fluid spills, tyre marks, debris or any other relevant visible evidence from multiple sides – at the beginning, end and along the length – and in relation to the scene as a whole.
8. Any obstructions, road closures, road works, road markings, signs, mile markers, unique features or traffic or pedestrians, at the scene – from multiple angles.
9. Driving licenses, ID Documents, Passports or other identification or business cards of all involved drivers, passengers, witnesses or involved parties, as far as possible.
10. Contamination of evidence like vehicles being opened by Jaws of Life moved or lifted to free entrapped occupant’s, photograph this happening – but only if possible and from far enough away not to show faces of victims.
This list is inclusive of the minimum evidence that would best serve the most basic requirements to be of benefit in any insurance claim, dispute or trial.
This list may be distributed as long as it is shared completely, as it appears, without any changes and with acknowledgement of the author and copyright holder.
© Stan Bezuidenhout, 2018. – Crash Guys International.
Also view:
What would be the Best Photos to take at the Scene of a Road Crash?