The moments immediately following a car accident are almost always stressful and unnerving. However, it is important to maintain enough presence of mind to document the scene to the best of your ability.

One of the best actions you can take is to photograph the vehicles and the entire accident site, so you have visual proof of the damage involved. You don’t need to have a great camera to get this done — the camera on your phone will work just fine. However, you do need to know exactly what you should be photographing so your pictures are actually useful to you as evidence when you ultimately need them.

Here are a few items you should definitely photograph:

• All vehicles involved in the accident and the damage that occurred to them
• Any skid marks you find on the road, which can help prove speed and stopping distance, among other important factors
• Any debris that fell into the road, including shattered glass and parts of vehicles
• The entire accident site in general, including any signs or traffic signals in place, any markings on the road, the curb and the nearby intersection
• The weather conditions that day (if it was raining, for example, be sure to get pictures of the clouds and puddles)
• Any injuries that you, your passengers or other parties suffered (be sure to get consent from people who were not in your vehicle if you wish to take their photograph)

As much as possible, you should try to take these photos from a variety of angles and distances to provide multiple perspectives. Use the flash if you have photos that are close up in dark areas. Taking video can also be a great option if there are certain aspects of the crash to which photos cannot do justice.

If you need sound legal representation after a serious car accident, work with a trusted La Plata personal injury attorney at Mudd, Mudd & Fitzgerald, P.A.