Nowadays an increasing number of auto accident notificationssubmitted by insureds arrive with real-time, at-the-scenephotographs of vehicle damage. Such immediate information is oftenuseful; but could it be better?

As an adjuster, you know what is needed to process the claim.However, your novice asset in the field armed with a smart-phonecamera—and one who is, perhaps, a little emotional and slightlybattered—could perhaps use some guidance. Of course, all this ismoot if the insured is in need of medical attention; if theaccident circumstances are actively dangerous to photo-taking; orif re-establishing traffic flow negates the photo op. Shouldcircumstances prove favorable, then your input to the insured willhelp the quality and quantity of the photo evidence collected atthe crash site.

It is important to distinguish between images that documentdamage and those that provide solid evidence. Although both can becrucial, in-depth accident analysis requires photography thatbalances detail and context. Even though aclose-up of a damaged fender is fine and necessary, an additionalwider-angle shot will help determine the angle of impact and thescope of the damage. This is particularly true for low-speed impactanalysis (LSIA) of those all-too-frequent and difficult-to-proveclaims that result from minor fender benders. Real-timedocumentation from the accident is an asset for preliminaryestimations of liability, especially in situations where theinjuries sustained are subjective to the sufferer and difficult torefute. Coincidentally, these are also the accident types mostlikely to be photographed by claimants.