Why Is It Important to Take Photos After a Car Crash?

Hoffmann Law Firm
2 min readDec 28, 2020

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The scenes following an automobile accident are often chaotic, mind-boggling, and scary, and that’s only putting it lightly. As you emerge out of the wreckage, fortunate enough to escape unscathed or with minor injuries, your priority would be to check yourself and anyone else involved in the accident thoroughly for injuries, call emergency services and move out of harm’s way. If you are still cognizant, it would also be judicious and wise to warn oncoming traffic about your accident to prevent further pile-ups.

In the accompanying chaos and confusion of the moment, taking pictures of the accident scene may be the last thing on your mind. Still, it is more important than you think.

Many automobile accident victims fail to take pictures of the accident scene either because they are in a state of shock or because they do not realize how these photos make for compelling pieces of evidence. Pictures of the accident, thoroughly documenting the injuries and the damages caused, can make all the difference between a successful insurance settlement and an unsuccessful one.

How Car Accident Photos Help

Nothing depicts the harsh grimness of the aftermath of an accident better than photos taken immediately after. These pictures are not only proof of the accident, but in a lot of cases, they also help determine the cause of the accident, contributing factors, and the extent of damages.

Accident photos should include, if possible, pictures of injuries to the driver and co-passenger, damage to the vehicle and surrounding property, and any other details that may help justify your claim while also taking the onus of the accident off you. These could include posted traffic signs and witnesses, if any.

These photos will significantly help your auto accident lawyer play an essential role in determining who was at fault in the accident. Apart from that, pictures of the accident site can help jog your memory, highlighting any relevant details you may have missed documenting in your report.

Automobile accident photos can also be submitted to your insurance provider or during negotiations with insurance adjusters as evidence to substantiate any claim you make and will help apportion liability, particularly if the accident was not your fault.

An experienced and reliable car accident lawyer can use these car accident photos to help you make a successful claim and get the compensation you are legally entitled to for your injuries and damages.

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Hoffmann Law Firm

St.Louis Car Accident Attorney - Helping Recover after Auto Accidents in Missouri and Illinois. The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C.