Photos are the most useful thing you can collect at the scene of an accident. They show what happened, what was damaged, and who was involved — and they make recovering your costs and getting your car repaired much smoother. Here's a simple checklist of what to photograph.
Take photos of your car and the other car from several angles — front, back and both sides. Get the damage close up, but also take wider shots that show the whole car and where the damage sits on it. The point of impact often tells the story of how the accident happened.
Don't just photograph the damaged area. A photo of the whole car in context helps show the position of the damage and rules out confusion later.
Get a clear, close-up photo of both number plates. If the other driver won't give you their details, the number plate is the single most important thing you can capture. Make sure it's legible — blur-sm it with your finger if you have to, but get a sharp one too.
These wider shots establish the context — where the cars were, what the road was like, and what else was around. They can be the difference if there's any disagreement about what happened.
Get detailed shots of the damage to your car — dents, scratches, cracked lights, broken glass, bent panels. Photograph from a few different distances so there's both context and detail. If something is leaking or a panel is out of alignment, capture that too.
These close-ups are what the repairer and the cost recovery process rely on. The more complete they are, the smoother both tend to be.
You don't need to photograph witnesses, but if anyone saw the accident and is willing to help, ask for their name and phone number. An independent account can be valuable, especially in a hit and run or where fault is disputed.
The rule is simple: take more photos than you think you'll need. You can always delete them later, but you can't go back to the scene once the cars have moved. A few extra minutes at the scene saves a lot of hassle down the track.
Once you've got your photos and the other driver's details, hand them over to YBV Group. We use them to arrange your replacement vehicle, manage your repairs, and recover your costs from the at-fault driver. You deal with one point of contact from our base in Brighton.
Good photos — both cars, both plates, the scene and the damage — are the most useful thing you can collect at the scene, and they're what YBV Group uses to handle the rest. If you've had a not-at-fault accident, check your eligibility on our contact page or call 0481 797 861. This article is general information only and isn't legal or insurance advice. Eligibility conditions apply.
We'll arrange your replacement vehicle, manage your repairs and recover your costs from the at-fault driver. Serving Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs from Brighton. Eligibility conditions apply.
