When I review a new case, I can usually tell how smoothly it will go within the first thirty minutes. Not because of the make of the car or the street where it happened, but because of the quality of the photos and videos taken at the scene. Good visual evidence freezes fleeting details: skid marks that fade with traffic, a puddle that dries in the sun, a turn signal stuck in the “on” position that no one remembers later. If you’re physically able, the images you capture in the minutes after a collision can save months of argument and thousands in disputed damages.
No one expects you to stage a forensic shoot with a DSLR. A phone camera, steady hands, and a short mental checklist are enough. The goal is not beauty, it’s clarity. Your pictures should answer basic questions: who, where, how, and how much. The more independently they answer those questions, the less room there is for an insurer to “interpret” events against you.
Safety and priorities before you press record
Some scenes are simply too dangerous to document. If you smell fuel, if your vehicle is in a blind curve, if traffic is still flowing at highway speeds, your first move is to get to a safe area and call 911. No photo is worth a secondary collision. If you’re injured, ask a passenger or a bystander to take a few photos for you, or come back once first responders have secured the area.
Once you’re safe and medical needs are addressed, start gathering visuals. Even two or three minutes of careful documentation can preserve evidence that often vanishes within the hour. If police are on the way, you do not need to wait to start shooting, but remain courteous and do not interfere with their work.
The visual story investigators look for
Every claim has a narrative. Insurers, adjusters, and, if needed, juries consider the same building blocks: the vehicles’ positions, lane markings, traffic signals, sightlines, weather, road conditions, vehicle damage, and injuries. The value of your photos comes from covering each of those blocks from different angles. Redundancy is your friend. Different perspectives let an accident attorney connect dots without relying on memory.
Imagine a T-bone collision at a four-way intersection. One driver says the light was green, the other says it was red. If you have a close shot of the traffic signal controlling your lane, a wide shot showing the sequence of the signals, and a frame that includes the timing box with a visible maintenance sticker, that is already more useful than ten photos of your bumper. Add a panorama that shows the sun angle and glare at that hour, and you just gave your car accident lawyer the tools to push back against a disputed-light defense.
Wide, medium, close: how to frame what matters
Photographers often think in three distances: wide to set the scene, medium to establish relationships, close to capture details. The approach works perfectly after a crash.
Start with wide frames. Stand back far enough to fit both vehicles, the lanes, and any signals or signs. If you can safely cross the street, take a second wide shot from the opposite side. These images give context. Later, when someone asks whether the other driver could have seen your car, those wide frames let a reconstruction expert measure sightlines.
Move to medium shots. Frame each vehicle such that the point of impact is obvious in relation to the rest of the car. Include license plates in at least one medium shot per vehicle. Medium frames of debris fields, skid marks, and vehicle positions let your auto accident attorney infer speed and direction.
Finish with close-ups. Photograph specific damage: a cracked headlight, a wheel bent inward, the deployed airbag, a seat belt with webbing “burn,” a child seat if one was installed. Close-ups should be sharp, well-lit, and taken from two or three angles. If a panel gap widened or the hood no longer aligns, photograph that seam with a finger or coin for scale. Where there is suspected frame damage, capture the crease along the rocker panel or pillars.
What to capture around the roadway
The road itself can be a witness. I care deeply about lane markings, signs, and surface conditions. A faded stop line becomes an argument about visibility. A missing reflectivity bead in old paint can matter on a rainy night. Document:
- Lane markings and control devices that applied to each vehicle: stop signs, yield signs, lane arrows, turn-only indicators, traffic lights, and pedestrian signals. If a signal is malfunctioning or dark, record it as video with the surrounding intersection to show sequence and timing. Road conditions in real time: standing water, gravel, oil sheen, black ice patches, potholes, broken pavement, construction plates, and how they sit relative to tire tracks. If there were cones or barrels, capture their positions and spacing.
Keep an eye on shoulders, medians, and curbs. A tire rub on a curb can explain a sudden swerve. Fresh scrapes on a guardrail show contact points. Photograph crosswalks and curb ramps when pedestrians or cyclists are involved. In a pedestrian crash, I will always ask for images of the crosswalk paint, the timing of the “walk” phase, and whether vegetation obstructed the signal head.
Skid marks, yaw marks, and debris patterns
Most drivers don’t think about rubber on asphalt beyond the immediate scare it gave them, but these marks are physics written on the ground. Straight, dark streaks with clear edges suggest braking. Curved, feathered marks can indicate yaw from a sideways slide. Photograph each mark from end to end. Include a scale if you can, even your shoe or a standard car key laid next to the mark. Take a few shots from oblique angles, not just straight down. That helps a consultant calculate approximate speed ranges later.
Debris tells a path. Glass, plastic, foam, and metal tend to fall in a fan shape from the impact point. Document where the heaviest cluster sits and how far it spreads. If there are fluid trails, follow them with photos to where a car came to rest. The direction of those trails often aligns with the vector of impact.
The vehicles: inside and out
Exterior damage is obvious, but interior images carry weight with insurers and juries because they hint at the violence of the crash and whether safety systems functioned. Photograph deployed airbags from the driver, passenger, and side curtains. If the steering wheel airbag did not deploy and you believe it should have, capture the indicator lights on the dashboard when you turn the key to accessory mode. Take care not to power a car that could be unsafe.
Take clear photos of seat belts for all occupied positions. Look for fraying, melted fibers, or stretch marks in the webbing. Those details can rebut the common and frustrating allegation that “they weren’t belted.” If a car seat was installed, take several pictures: how it was strapped, whether a top tether was used, and the label indicating size limits. Even in minor crashes, insurers often cover replacement car seats, but they will ask for proof.
Under the hood photos are less critical unless a fire risk exists, but a shot of the front frame rails, radiator support, and battery placement can be useful. For rear-end crashes, capture trunk floors and spare tire wells, which tend to buckle in ways that reveal hidden damage.
People, injuries, and the human details
Images of injuries are sensitive, but they matter. If you are comfortable and it is safe, take clear photos of visible wounds, bruising, swelling, or seat belt marks the same day and then again 24 to 72 hours later. Bruises often bloom after the adrenaline fades. Keep the lighting consistent and include a familiar object for scale. Store these images with the date and time embedded.
Photograph the other driver only if they consent or if they are in public view and you are not interfering. A short video capturing their admission at the scene can be valuable, but do not provoke a confrontation. If bystanders say they saw what happened, ask politely if you can record a quick statement with their permission, and take a photo of where they were standing to show their vantage point. A simple “I was on the northeast corner; the silver SUV ran the red light” recorded within minutes can have outsized impact later, especially if contact information gets lost amid the chaos.
The environment you will forget by tomorrow
Memory erases small things quickly: the angle of the sun, a light rain that stopped ten minutes later, a delivery truck parked in a loading zone that blocked a lane. Your phone can’t capture temperature or wind speed perfectly, but it can capture the effects. Photograph the sky to show visibility. If glare was a factor, take a photo facing the same direction as the at-fault driver at the same intersection angle. If a tree limb obscured a sign, show the obstruction from the driver’s perspective. If a hill crest hid oncoming traffic, stand where the driver would and take a horizon-level shot.
Night scenes need extra care. Turn on your flash for close-ups, then take wide shots without flash to preserve ambient light, followed by a short video panning the scene slowly while keeping the phone steady. Headlight patterns on the road and reflective materials in signage can be more apparent in video.
Short video clips that answer big questions
Photos freeze moments, video explains sequences. A thirty-second clip can demonstrate that a left-turn signal has a protected arrow that comes before the through-light phase. Another clip might show that the sensor loop for a turn lane is malfunctioning, leaving vehicles trapped. If your crash involved a rideshare, scooter, or pedestrian in a crosswalk, video the signal cycle from “Don’t Walk” to “Walk” and back, capturing the countdown. In trucking cases, video the trailer’s conspicuity markings and any open or missing underride guards. In a motorcycle crash, record the first-person view of the approach to the scene to show how sightlines disappear behind parked cars.
Pan slowly. Start with a quick verbal timestamp and description: “It’s 5:18 p.m., eastbound on Maple, the turn arrow lasts about four seconds.” Keep your commentary factual. Avoid assigning blame on camera in the heat of the moment. I have seen an offhand apology in a shaky clip create unnecessary hurdles.
Special situations: trucks, motorcycles, pedestrians, and rideshare
Not every collision is alike. Each scenario suggests a few extra images that a truck accident lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, or pedestrian accident attorney will look for.
In truck crashes, capture the USDOT number on the cab, the company name on both sides, and any placards indicating hazardous materials. Photograph the trailer’s rear and side underride guards, tire tread condition, and load securement if visible. Get close-ups of the hours-of-service sticker, any dash camera or radar sensors on the grill, and the state of reflective tape. If cargo spilled, capture where and how it fell, which may signal securement issues.
In motorcycle collisions, focus on visibility and protective gear. Photograph the headlight and any auxiliary lighting, the position of the bike relative to lane markings, the helmet’s exterior and interior, gloves, jacket armor plates, and any scuffs that indicate impact direction. If you had a GoPro or dash cam running, preserve the full file and avoid editing. A motorcycle accident attorney can often extract speed and lean angle data from the footage or the device’s metadata.
For pedestrians and cyclists, document crosswalk paint, curb ramps, signal timing, and obstructions like parked cars, vegetation, or construction signage. Photograph the roadway from the pedestrian’s vantage point as well as the driver’s approach view. If a bike lane exists, capture its width, buffers, and any parked vehicles intruding into it.
For rideshare incidents involving Uber or Lyft, take screenshots within the app showing the trip details, driver name, vehicle information, and timestamp. Photograph the interior of the vehicle, including the front and rear console, to show whether the driver was using a phone mount or holding a device. Rideshare accident lawyers regularly use these images to establish which insurance policy should apply.
Provenance, metadata, and chain of custody
Photos are only as persuasive as their authenticity. Keep the original files in your phone’s photo library. Do not apply filters, crop heavily, or edit exposure unless guided by your attorney. Most modern phones embed EXIF metadata that includes the date, time, and sometimes GPS coordinates. That metadata can be potent evidence, especially in disputes over timing or location.
Back up your images to a secure cloud service and also transfer them to a separate device or drive. Create a simple folder with the date and a short description. If you share the photos with your car accident attorney, ask whether to do so via a secure portal rather than text. Maintaining a clean chain of custody helps an injury lawyer if the case goes to litigation.
When police or tow trucks arrive
Once first responders take control, stay cooperative. They will document the scene, but their priority is safety and clearing the roadway, not building your civil claim. I have seen tow operators sweep debris and right vehicles within minutes of arrival. If you have not captured your wide and medium shots by then, try to do so while staying out of their way. If an officer is diagramming the scene, a quick photo of their sketch can be useful, but always ask permission.
If your vehicle will be towed, take photographs of its interior and exterior from all sides before it leaves. Capture the tow truck’s company name, truck number, and destination yard. When the car reaches the yard, take new photos to document any additional damage that happened during tow or storage. In disputed property damage cases, these comparisons become critical.
Using your phone like a field kit
You do not need fancy tools, but the settings in your phone matter. Turn off “live” or motion photo features if they reduce resolution. Enable location services so your photos retain GPS tags. In low light, use the manual exposure slider to brighten shadows without blowing out highlights. Lock focus by pressing and holding on the subject. Take a breath and brace your elbows to reduce blur. If your phone supports it, shoot a short 4K video panning the scene; a still frame pulled from high-resolution video can sometimes capture a license plate that a standard photo missed.
Avoid zooming with your fingers, which degrades quality on most phones. Step closer for details. If rain or snow threatens your lens, use a tissue to wipe it before each close-up. Small adjustments prevent disappointments later.
What not to do with your visuals
Do not post scene photos or injury images on social media. Insurers scour accounts. A seemingly innocent caption can be twisted. Do not tag other drivers or speculate about fault online. Do not hand your phone to a stranger without first locking sensitive apps or opening only the camera screen. If the other driver is hostile, step back. Your safety outranks any photo.
Avoid staging or moving evidence unless necessary for safety. If you must move a vehicle out of traffic, take pictures of its position and tire angles first. Do not throw away damaged items like broken glasses, ripped clothing, or a shattered phone case. Photograph them and store them in a labeled bag. In a wrongful death case, these objects can become heartbreakingly important; in less severe cases, they still corroborate force and injury.
How attorneys use your images
A seasoned car crash lawyer looks at your images through multiple lenses. For liability, they examine sightlines, control devices, impact points, and road conditions. For damages, they study occupant space intrusion, airbag deployment, and restraint marks. For causation, they connect skid mark length and angle to stopping distance and speed range. If the other driver claims you “came out of nowhere,” your wide shots showing an unobstructed approach can undermine that claim.
Insurers often ask for recorded statements early. Having clear photos allows your car wreck lawyer or auto injury lawyer to control the narrative without guessing. When a claim involves a commercial vehicle, high-quality images can lead to preservation letters that force a trucking company to retain dash cam footage and electronic logging device data. In rideshare cases, your screenshots help a rideshare accident attorney determine whether the driver was “on app” and what coverage applies.
A short field checklist you can save to your phone
- Wide, medium, close images of all vehicles, roadway, and signals, plus any skid marks and debris Clear shots of plates, VIN stickers, insurance cards, driver’s license, and company identifiers for commercial vehicles Interior photos of airbags, seat belts, car seats, and dashboard indicators, along with injury photos over several days Environmental context: weather, lighting, obstructions, signal timing, and construction zones Short videos showing signal cycles, the approach path, and any malfunctions, plus screenshots for rideshare trips
Keep this list short and practical. If you hit three of these items before tow trucks arrive, you are already ahead of most claimants.
When you cannot take photos at all
Many clients come to me after being transported from the scene. That is normal. If you have no images, do not assume your case is doomed. A personal injury lawyer can still gather surveillance footage from nearby businesses, request traffic camera archives, canvass for witnesses, and hire reconstruction experts. The clock matters. Most private systems overwrite footage within days. If you contact a car accident attorney near me promptly, they can send preservation letters quickly, which often results in crucial video being saved.
Family members can also return to the scene to document fixed features and, sometimes, remaining marks. Even a photo of the intersection a day later helps orient experts. If weather changed dramatically, a quick screenshot of a weather service showing past injury lawyer conditions at the time of the crash can supplement.
Choosing a lawyer who knows how to use what you captured
Not every attorney works cases the same way. When you search for a car accident lawyer near me or the best car accident attorney for your situation, ask specific questions: How do you preserve digital evidence? Do you send investigators to re-photograph scenes? Have you used client photos successfully at trial? An accident attorney who understands metadata, chain of custody, and the value of early scene work will make better use of your effort.
For specialized collisions, consider experience that fits. A truck crash lawyer will know to chase ECM downloads and bill of lading records. A motorcycle accident attorney will anticipate bias in police narratives and counter it with visibility and conspicuity evidence. A pedestrian accident lawyer will emphasize signal timing and driver duty to yield. If the worst has happened, a wrongful death attorney will treat the scene images with the gravity they deserve and move quickly to preserve all sources of proof.
Final thoughts from the trenches
Over the years, a few consistent patterns stand out. First, even imperfect photos beat perfect recollections. Glare, angles, and distances are hard to describe under oath months later. Second, the best images are captured early, before the scene changes. Third, restraint helps. Take more pictures than you think you need, but keep them private and unedited until you consult an injury attorney. Fourth, small details carry big weight: a bent pedal, a fold in a seat track, a torn belt tongue. Fifth, context wins. A single close-up of a dent cannot tell the story; a chain of wide-to-close frames can.
If you remember nothing else, remember this: your phone is a tool to secure your future self. Use it safely, use it thoughtfully, and then hand the results to a professional who can turn pixels into proof. A capable car accident lawyer, auto accident attorney, or personal injury attorney can only build with the materials they have. Give them sharp, honest, thorough images, and the rest of the case gets much easier.