Your number one priority after a car accident should be seeking medical assistance. If you or someone else has been injured in the crash, contact the authorities so that EMTs will be sent to the scene.
However, if possible, it’s also wise to take pictures after the crash. This can help you if you are filing an insurance claim, starting a lawsuit to seek financial compensation or simply trying to establish that the other driver was at fault. Below are a few types of pictures to consider.
Identifying information
For one thing, it’s just helpful to have a picture of the other person’s car, their license plate, their driver’s license and their proof of insurance. This is a quick and easy way to exchange identifying information and ensure that you can identify the correct driver, even if they leave the scene or something of this nature.
Pictures of the crash scene
Additionally, a picture or a video of the crash scene can go a long way toward showing why the accident happened and who was at fault. Take wide pictures from multiple angles, and make sure they include any important information—stop signs, traffic lights, crosswalks, bike lanes, etc. Even after the vehicles have been moved, you can go back to these photos to show what occurred on the day of the crash.
Pictures of damage and injuries
Finally, it can be helpful to take pictures of specific damage to your vehicle or any injuries that you or others have suffered. This helps to demonstrate the severity when you’re seeking compensation, and it also clearly establishes that these things happened during the crash.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident, it’s very important for you to know what legal steps you can take to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other costs.