Is it a bad idea to send photos of auto accidents to insurance companies?

Drivers get into accidents every day, and insurance companies pay billions of dollars every year as a result. As such, an insurance company is not going to be overly ecstatic to pay out large amounts of money on weak claims.

Taking pictures for insurance claims and even video after an accident is an important step when filing auto insurance claims with your insurance company. Providing visual evidence of the damage to your vehicle can help to boost the amount your insurance company pays out.

If you are afraid of losing your affordable auto insurance, is it a bad idea to send photos of car accidents to an insurance company? Absolutely not. Your pictures of an accident’s aftermath are evidence that can help you get the maximum compensation that you deserve.

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Will sending photos of auto accidents to insurance companies help my claim?

If you don’t want to lose your current auto insurance company, is it a bad idea to send photos of car accidents to an insurance company? Sending photos of an accident to your insurance company, especially if you didn’t cause it, is something you certainly should do as this can protect you.

The burden of collecting evidence to support your auto insurance claim falls to you. Insurance adjusters take auto insurance photo inspection seriously; by providing photos and using them in conjunction with other evidence, you can show the claims adjuster that you are knowledgeable and motivated.

The evidence you collect via photographs and videos can increase both the credibility and financial value of your claim; it can also help prove the other driver’s liability for your damages.

Accident scene photos bolster your claim by:

• Painting the picture of how the accident occurred
• Providing clear proof of any damage and personal injuries
• Serving as reminders that you can utilize to reconstruct the accident

Keep all your evidence organized and accessible. Such efforts will help you present a strong claim that can result in a better settlement offer.

If there’s been a fatality, a police officer may take a few pictures, but you may not even be able to get your hands on that. In some cities, if you file a police report for an accident you’ll actually have to pay the police department to get those records.

If you’re worried about listing an accident on auto insurance quotes, is it a bad idea to send photos of car accidents to an insurance company? No.

If you did not cause an accident, you wouldn’t file a claim with your insurance company. You would file through the other driver’s insurance. This keeps your record both accident and claim-free and can help you maintain a https://www.autoinsuranceez.com/car-insurance-discounts/safe-driver-discount/ on your current policy.

Even if you did cause an accident, collect as much photographic as you can. This can serve as a form of protection in case the other driver tries to inflate or even fabricate their claim against you.

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When should I send photos of auto accidents to my insurer?

If you’ve been in an accident, the last thing you should be thinking is, “If I need to keep my low auto insurance rates, is it a bad idea to send photos of car accidents to an insurance company?”

Your first priority should be checking yourself and anyone involved for injuries before calling 911 for assistance. Be aware of other possible dangers like overturned cars, leaking fuel, or approaching vehicles if your accident took place in a busy street.

Once you’ve surveyed the area and called for help, you can start taking photos of the scene if it is safe to do so and before police and paramedics arrive.

As this will be your sole chance to capture the scene exactly as it was at the time of the collision, you should try to take as many photos as possible from a wide variety of angles.

Of course, you should be aware of your surroundings at all times and not put yourself in further danger when taking these pictures.

How to Take Pictures for Auto Insurance Claims

When documenting the aftermath of an accident, you should take repeated still shots while slowly turning to capture every detail. You can also take a video.

After that, begin snapping pictures from different angles. Don’t worry about checking each one, because you’ll have a limited time frame to document the scene before first responders arrive and tow trucks come to remove the damaged vehicles.

Borrow the mindset of a professional photographer and take as many pictures as you can. You can review the photographs when you are safely at home.

Let’s take a look at how to take pictures of an auto accident for an insurance claim:

• Take photos of the vehicles involved: zoom in on the damage to your vehicle, photograph the damage to the other driver’s vehicle, photograph broken glass, damaged car parts, and any debris on the ground around the vehicles
• Photograph the environment: take photos of traffic indicators, reference points, road conditions and weather, skid marks, and time of day
• Photograph everyone at the scene: take photos or video of the other drivers, yourself, witnesses, and emergency responders; bear in mind that you must have permission to take photos or video of witnesses
• Take photos of injuries: photograph injuries at the scene as well as during your recovery at the hospital and physical therapy if applicable

Capturing where you were in pictures is just as important as photographing the amount of damage done to your vehicle. For example, if the driver who hit you drove through a stop sign, make sure that the stop sign is in the backdrop when you take a picture of their car.

In the event that you were hit by a drunk driver, photos and video evidence can be quite compelling when filing a claim. If your video has sound, it may even capture an admission of fault which can be quite helpful.

Most insurance companies don’t want photos of graphic injuries and damages to end up in court. With your photos in hand, you will be set up for a much stronger position when you begin negotiating for a settlement.

Is it a bad idea to send photos of auto accidents to insurance companies?

If you like your current insurance company but were just in an accident and don’t want to be forced to buy auto insurance again, is it a bad idea to send photos of car accidents to an insurance company? No, especially if you were not at fault.

After an accident occurs, both drivers typically claim that the other party was at fault. Since you won’t get a penny from the other driver’s insurance unless you have proof that they caused the accident, taking photos and sending them in is vital.

Your photos of an accident are key evidence that can reveal everything from traffic conditions and time of day to property damage and injuries.

A picture is worth a thousand words after all, and good pictures can help you get a good settlement even if the other driver tries attempts to finesse the story after the fact.

Read more:

• Is it a bad idea to change auto insurance after an accident?
• Is it a bad idea to claim injury on auto insurance when you aren’t hurt?
• Is it a bad idea to delay payments for auto insurance?

Hopefully, you’ve learned everything you need to know about sending photos of an accident to an insurance company. Now you can find out how to get a better rate. Just enter your ZIP code below to get affordable auto insurance quotes from insurance companies in your city today.

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