Checklists

What Photos Should You Take?

Published 2026-08-04 • Updated 2026-08-28 • Reviewed by 365 DataSolutions Content Review

This article is general information only. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Most people take plenty of close-up damage photos and forget the wide shots that show how the scene looked.

Start wide, then move in

• Four wide shots from each corner of the scene showing vehicle positions
• Medium shots of each vehicle from front, back, and both sides
• Close shots of the specific damage on each vehicle
• A clear photo of every license plate

Context that disappears quickly

• Traffic signals and signs facing each direction of travel
• Lane markings, potholes, debris, and skid marks
• Weather, standing water, snow, or glare
• Obstructions such as parked trucks, construction, or overgrown foliage

Documents and details

• Insurance card and driver information, if the other driver agrees to share it
• Any paperwork or card provided by the responding agency
• Visible injuries, only if you are comfortable documenting them

Practical notes

• Keep original files rather than screenshots so timestamps stay intact.
• Back the album up to cloud storage the same day.
• Do not post accident photos publicly on social media.