Beyond the Basics: Mastering Accident Scene Photography for Critical Details
These days, almost every driver receives the training in accident scene reporting, so they’re familiar with the basics. But here’s the thing: when it comes to truly capturing the story of an accident, the devil is in the details. In this guide, I’ll go beyond the basics and share advanced tips to help you photograph the scene like a pro. I’ll also reveal the crucial details that drivers often overlook—those small yet significant elements that can be the difference between clarity and confusion in an investigation. Let’s make sure nothing gets missed!
Demonstrate the Size for Comparison
When taking pictures of small details like skid marks or broken glass at an accident scene, it’s important to show how big or small they are. To do this, place something next to them in the picture that everyone knows the size of, like a dollar bill, key, or coin. This helps people understand how large the marks or pieces of glass are.
For Example: If you’re taking a photo of skid marks, put a dollar bill next to the marks on the road before snapping the picture. Since everyone knows the size of a dollar bill, they can easily compare it to the skid marks and understand how long or wide they are.
Skid marks can help figure out the speed of truck during the accident. Make sure to also take pictures of damaged road signs, guardrails, or other objects. These can show how strong the impact was and might help explain what caused the crash.
Capture Possible Causes
Don't forget to photograph poor road conditions, such as potholes or uneven pavement, along with bad weather or malfunctioning traffic lights.
These are often overlooked during the initial documentation and only mentioned later in statements. I've seen this happen many times, but these details are very important to capture at the scene.
Turn On the Camera’s Timestamp function
If you're using a smartphone to take photos, the timestamp is usually enabled automatically, but it's important to double-check before you start. Make sure the timestamp function is turned on, so every photo shows the exact date and time it was taken.
If you go back to take more pictures in the days or weeks after the accident, ensure those photos are also timestamped. This helps keep track of when each picture was taken and provides a clear timeline for the investigation.
Do not share pictures on social media
Never delete any pictures or share them on social media. Save them in multiple secure locations, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage, to ensure they are not lost. Only share these photos with your attorney to protect their integrity and maintain privacy.