What to capture at the accident scene
You are still at the scene and want to know what is actually worth recording.
If you are reading this at the scene, start here. Check that everyone is safe first, then work through the steps below in order.
What to do right now
- Move to safety if you are in the path of traffic, and switch on hazard lights.
- Check yourself and anyone with you for injuries before doing anything else.
- Photograph both vehicles from several angles, before anything is moved if it is safe to leave them.
- Photograph the road surface, any skid marks, debris and nearby signs or signals.
- Get the other driver’s name, phone number, identity card and vehicle registration.
- Ask anyone who saw it happen for their name and number before they leave.
Once these are done, you have already captured most of what a claim will later need.
What each piece of evidence is actually for
Photos of the vehicles and their damage show the direction and force of impact. Photos of the road, such as a faded give-way sign or a pothole, can show why the accident happened.
None of this decides fault by itself. It gives your police report something concrete to point to, instead of two accounts that disagree.
When to move your vehicle, and when not to
If your vehicle is a hazard to other traffic and nobody is hurt, move it to the roadside and photograph from there. If it is not blocking anything, leave it where it stopped until you have photographed it.
If you have dashcam or phone video
Save it today, since many dashcams and phones overwrite older footage automatically. Saving your dashcam and photo evidence has the detail.
After you leave the scene
Once you are safely away from the road, the same-day priorities are a police report, a medical check even if you feel fine, and writing down what you remember while it is fresh. The full sequence is in the first 24 hours after a crash and what to do after a road accident.
Everything you gather here supports the claim process later. If the other side disputes what happened, an independent lawyer can take on the claim and use your evidence.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
Is it safe to take photos before moving my vehicle?
If your vehicle is a hazard to other traffic and everyone is unhurt, move it to the roadside first and photograph from there. If it is not blocking traffic, photograph the original positions before anything is moved.
How many photos are actually useful?
More than you think you need. Cover different angles, distances and details, so you do not find later that a key angle was missed.
Should I take photos of my own injuries?
Yes, if you feel able to. Visible injuries such as bruising or cuts are easy to forget once they heal, and a timestamped photo from the day itself is hard to dispute later.
What if it is dark or raining when the accident happens?
Take what you can, even if the images are imperfect. Poor lighting or rain does not make the evidence worthless, and it also honestly records the conditions the accident happened in.
Do I need to photograph the other driver's documents?
A clear photo of their identity card, licence and vehicle registration, taken with their knowledge, is far more reliable than copying numbers down by hand under pressure.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.