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. Take them before anything is moved.
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. Road and signage photos can show why it happened, such as a faded give-way sign or a blind corner.
None of this decides fault on its own. It gives your police report something concrete to point to, instead of two accounts that disagree.
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.
Getting this evidence into your claim
These photos support your police report and the other steps in what to do after a road accident. Keep the originals safe, since they matter if you make a road accident claim.
What about dashcam footage?
If your car or motorcycle has a dashcam, save the footage today. Many devices overwrite older recordings automatically within a short time.
If the other side disputes how it happened, an independent lawyer can take on the claim and use your photos and footage as 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
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.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.