What photos to take at the scene
You are standing at the scene wondering exactly what your phone camera should capture.
Photograph the overall scene first, then each vehicle up close, then the small details that explain how it happened. A dozen or more photos taken in this order, before anything is moved, gives you far more to work with later than a handful taken at random.
The order worth following
- Both vehicles in their stopped positions, from a few angles and from further away.
- Close-up damage on each vehicle, including scrapes that look minor.
- The road surface: skid marks, debris, wet patches or potholes nearby.
- Traffic signs, signals and lane markings around the accident.
- The other driver’s identity card, licence and vehicle registration.
- Any visible injuries to yourself or passengers, once you feel able to.
What each type of photo is actually for
Damage photos show the direction and force of impact, which helps explain how the collision happened rather than leaving it to two people’s memories. Road and signage photos can explain why it happened, such as a faded give-way sign or a blind corner.
None of this decides fault on its own, but it gives your police report and any later discussion something concrete to point to, instead of two accounts that simply disagree with each other.
If your vehicle needs to move first
Safety comes before photos. If your car is a hazard to other traffic and no one is hurt, move it to the roadside and photograph from there instead of leaving it in a dangerous position for the sake of a better angle.
Getting this evidence into your claim
These photos become part of what supports what to do after a road accident and the police report you make the same day. Keep the originals safely, since they may also matter later if you go on to make a road accident claim.
A quick word on dashcam footage
If your car or motorcycle has a dashcam, save the footage today rather than assuming it will still be there tomorrow. Many devices overwrite older recordings automatically within a short period, often faster than people expect.
Common questions
What if my phone has almost no battery left?
Take the most important shots first: both vehicles' positions and damage, then plates and licences. A handful of clear photos of the right things beats a full battery spent on the wrong ones.
Should I photograph injuries as well as the vehicles?
Yes, if you feel able to. Visible bruising or cuts fade or heal within days, and a timestamped photo taken on the day itself is far harder to dispute later than a description from memory.
Is it worth filming a short video instead of photos?
Video can capture useful extra context, such as sound, traffic flow or an admission said in the moment, so it is worth doing alongside photos rather than instead of them.
What if it happened at night and my photos look dark and blurry?
Take them anyway. Poor lighting does not make the evidence worthless, and it also honestly shows the conditions the accident happened in, which can matter to how the accident is understood.