Print this and keep it in your glove box. Use it only if it’s safe to do so. If anyone is hurt, call 911 first.
0) Safety First (before any photos)
- Move to a safe spot out of traffic if you can; turn on hazard flashers.
- Don’t enter active lanes, work zones, or climb on vehicles.
- Follow police/flagger directions; don’t interfere with responders.
- Do not post photos or video on social media.
1) 60-Second Essentials (if that’s all you can do)
- Wide scene from two sides (landscape).
- Vehicle positions and license plates.
- Your injuries and anyone needing aid (if appropriate).
- Road view in the direction each driver was traveling.
2) Full Scene Set (take as many as are safe)
- Walk a clockwise loop around the scene; take a photo every 10–15 steps.
- Add panoramas from: far approach, impact area, and departure.
- Time, weather, lighting: snap the sky, sun position, and any street lights on/off.
3) Roadway & Environment
- Skid/yaw marks, gouges, debris fields (shoot perpendicular and at 45°).
- Lane lines, shoulders, rumble strips, median/barriers.
- Signs & signals: speed limit, merge/work-zone signs, temporary message boards.
- Curves/hills/blind spots; measure sightlines with reference points (e.g., poles).
- Surface conditions: wet/dry, gravel, potholes, ice, fresh oil or chip seal.
- Work zones: cones, drums, tapers, advance-warning signs, arrow boards.
4) Vehicles (yours + theirs)
- All 4 corners at mid-distance; close-ups of damage (orthogonal shots).
- VIN/US DOT/MC numbers (tractor door), company name on cab/trailer.
- Trailer ID, license plates, hazmat placards (if any).
- Conspicuity tape (red/white reflectors), lamp damage/out bulbs.
- Underride guards, bumpers, step bars—photograph contact points.
- Cargo/securement: open doors, straps, chains, seals, load shift if visible.
- Interior (if safe): fallen items, airbags, seat positions, child seats.
- Driver aids/phones visible on mounts; dashcam units (yours/theirs).
5) Stopped/“Parked” CMV Specifics (if applicable)
- Hazard flashers on/off; triangle/flare placement and distances.
- Where the truck/van is stopped (lane/shoulder/curb), and why (flat, breakdown, delivery).
- Night visibility: shoot with and without your flash to capture how dark it appears.
6) Evidence You Can’t See (but can document)
- 911 call time, police department name/unit numbers.
- Snap photos of witness license plates and ask for a quick name/phone.
- Business/home cameras facing the road—photograph the buildings and note times.
- For construction zones, photograph contractor logos on trucks/trailers and any traffic-control vendor vehicles.
7) People & Injuries
- Discreet photos of visible injuries (bruising, lacerations) the same day and over the next 72 hours.
- Photos of torn/bloody clothing, broken glasses/helmets, damaged personal items.
8) Simple “Measurements” Without Tools
- Use body-length steps: note “~10 steps from debris to sign.”
- Place a card/coin/pen beside small marks for scale; photograph from straight above.
- Photograph your odometer/speedometer (post-crash position) if meaningful.
9) Phone Settings & File Handling (so the photos hold up)
- Keep Location Services (GPS) ON for the camera.
- Shoot in Photo (not Portrait); avoid filters; don’t edit originals.
- Take short video sweeps (10–20 sec) walking the approach and impact area.
- Create a folder named YYYY-MM-DD Crash – YourName; back up to cloud.
- Share original files (with metadata), not screenshots.
10) After You Leave
- Write a quick timeline: what you were doing, speed, lane, signals, weather, first pain you noticed.
- Save receipts (tow, rideshare, meds, braces), and start a missed-work calendar.
Quick Do/Don’t
Do: wide → medium → close; shoot both directions of travel; capture signs/lights; photograph triangles/flashers at night.
Don’t: argue, admit fault, move evidence, or post online.
How Morrin Law Office uses your photos
- We build a minute-by-minute map of approach, impact, and rest positions.
- We compare what you captured to ELD/telematics, dashcams, and work-zone plans.
- We use your images to prove visibility, warning placement, and vehicle condition.
0 Comments