Claim photos that speed up assessments

Good claim photos do not need to be artistic. They need to show what happened, where the damage is and how the scene fits together. For vehicle incidents, a calm sequence can help an assessor understand the evidence without filling gaps from memory.

Take wide, medium and close views

Start with the whole vehicle and its position when safe, then each affected panel, then close-ups of dents, paint transfer, lights and wheels. Include number plates only where appropriate and avoid putting yourself in moving traffic to get an angle.

Capture useful context

Photograph road markings, signs, weather and the surrounding area if they help explain the incident. Note the date, time, location and other driver details separately. Do not alter images or add annotations to the originals.

Photo	Purpose
Full vehicle	Shows overall condition and impact area.
Damage close-up	Shows detail for assessment.
Scene view	Provides context when safe.

Preserve the files

Back them up promptly and keep a simple written timeline. If towing or emergency repair is needed, retain invoices and take photos before work begins where possible.