In most accidents, the circumstances which led up to the collision are fairly easy to identify, but there are always cases which are disputed or where the fault of the accident is difficult to ascertain after the fact. For times like those, there is no substitute for having photographic evidence that can be presented in a court of law.
Traffic Situation
Depending on the time of day and the place of the accident, and if the car can be driven the police may ask you to move it off the roadway so that other traffic is not affected. In this type of situation, photos that were taken immediately after the accident may be the only evidence of what happened if the two parties do not agree the details. So before you push, pull or drive your car out of the road, take a minute or two to get clear pictures of the damage and any circumstantial details which may have played a part in the problem.
Take Pictures
It is a good idea to keep a camera in your car. With the advent of picture phones, it is not unusual for several people in any group to have a camera already in their hand when an accident occurs. Taking pictures and locating witnesses who took their own pictures can help you galvanize the case in your favor if it should end up in a court. Keep in mind that the third-party pictures taken by witnesses could be especially helpful as they provide an unbiased account from a random perspective.
Look for Cameras
Look around for public and private cameras. Intersections commonly have cameras which record vehicles running traffic lights, gas stations and convenience stores have cameras to provide safety for the store and its customers. Cameras are everywhere, and the more you can find which might have recorded the accident in progress, the better your position will be when the evidence is presented to a judge or jury.
Back Photographs with Witnesses
Pictures are good, but a living person who saw it all is better. While you are taking pictures, look around at any spectators that may have gathered and find out if anyone saw what actually happened. If you have witnesses who can testify to match your pictures, your insurance company will have the resources to back you up in a court of law.
If you want any clarification or have any questions , please feel free to contact me at 22 26 96 46 or drop me an e-mail at savvas@insurancelinkcyprus.com, or fill out the enquiry form below and I will be more than happy to answer you and give you a quotation if you are interested.
*Savvas P. Christoforou is a Chartered Insurer and managing director of Insurancelink Cyprus