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Whether you’ve been involved in a major accident or a parking lot fender-bender, you will probably need to file an insurance claim to help pay for repairs. Luckily, you can take high-quality images of the scene to show the damage to both vehicles and help establish fault to speed up the claim. If you've never been in an accident before, here are a few tips for taking pictures before having your car taken to an auto body shop.

How to Take Pictures After an Accident

1. Don’t Wait

As long as nobody is injured in the accident, you should take photos as soon as possible. If you wait to take photos of your vehicle until the following day, the insurance company may deny that the damage is related to the collision. This is especially true if you’re filing a claim against the other driver’s insurance company. Ideally, you should take pictures immediately after the collision to help prove that the damage was caused by the accident.

2. Get Close-Ups of the Damage

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The images you take should be close-up shots of the damage to both your vehicle and the other driver’s car. Try to be mindful of glares, which can obscure missing paint, dents, and other damage. Take multiple photos from various angles to help prove the extent of the damage, which can help expedite your claim.

3. Take Photos of Every Detail

Any damage caused by the accident should be carefully documented, or the insurer may refuse to pay the auto body shop fees. While you need to take images of the most apparent damage on the vehicles, there could be other damage that isn't as clear. Therefore, you should also have photos of any additional dents, broken glass, scratches, and flat tires caused by the collision.

4. Get Photos of the Entire Scene

It can be difficult to completely understand the accident if you only have close-up shots. However, wider photos of the entire scene can give a more comprehensive perspective on the accident. For example, the insurer might want to know the position of each vehicle, as well as any factors that may have contributed to the accident, such as the weather or road conditions. While you can take several images, video footage of the accident scene can give much more in-depth information.

 

If you’ve been in an accident, bring your vehicle to Mark's Auto Body, one of the Cincinnati area’s premier auto body shops. They’ve been serving drivers throughout the area for over 25 years and have built a reputation for delivering exceptional results and reliable service to every customer. Visit their website for more on their services, follow their Facebook for updates and tips, or call (513) 731-4273 to schedule an appointment at the auto body shop today.

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