What Pictures to Take After an Accident in Denver

If you’ve been involved in a crash, your memory isn’t your most reliable source. Details get blurry quickly, and when insurance companies start disputing fault, you’ll need visual proof to win a case. That’s where your phone becomes your most powerful tool.

In Denver, documenting an accident properly could make the difference between a full recovery and a denied claim. Whether you’re dealing with an at-fault driver who changes their story, a hit-and-run, or an insurer downplaying your injuries, clear, time-stamped photos can help shut down the excuses.

In this guide, our motorcycle accident lawyers explain everything you need to know about documenting accident evidence with photos.

Why Accident Scene Photos Matter

Photos are one of the few pieces of evidence that can’t be argued with. Unlike written statements or memory-based testimonies, visual documentation shows the scene exactly as it was before the evidence is swept away, vehicles are moved, or weather conditions change.

If you’re filing a police report, as required under Colorado law for crashes involving injury or damage, that report will include the officer’s observations and interviews. But officers can’t capture everything, and they rarely take extensive photos. Your own visual documentation fills in those gaps and protects your version of events.

Photos can also:

• Confirm your injuries and vehicle damage at the time of the crash
• Capture the positions of vehicles and debris, showing how the crash occurred
• Show dangerous conditions that may not be recorded otherwise, like obstructed signage or fading skid marks
• Identify vehicles in hit-and-run or uninsured driver cases

For answers to your questions, call:
(303) 999-9999

Your Phone Is Your Best Tool: How to Use It Effectively After a Crash

It doesn’t matter if it’s an old phone or the latest model. What matters is how you use it. When you’re able to safely take photos after a crash, here’s how to approach it:

• Turn on your flash if needed and avoid filters or zoom unless necessary
• Take multiple angles of each subject: wide shots for context and close-ups for detail
• Make sure timestamps and date metadata are preserved
• If you’re unable to move around, ask someone at the scene to help document

Essential Photos to Take at the Scene

1. Vehicle Damage (All Vehicles Involved)

• Capture dents, crumpled panels, broken lights, and shattered glass
• Include both close-ups and wide-angle shots to show location and severity
• Don’t forget undercarriage damage or interior airbags, if safe to access

2. Injuries

• Photograph bruises, cuts, swelling, and any bleeding, if safe and appropriate
• Take images as soon as possible before treatment if you’re able
• Avoid sharing these photos publicly, even if you’re tempted to warn others

3. The Overall Scene

• Include the entire intersection or street from several angles
• Capture any relevant signage, signals, or obstructions to the line of sight
• Get pictures of skid marks, fallen parts, tire tracks, or spilled fluids

4. Weather and Road Conditions

• Document any snow, ice, fog, rain, or lighting glare that may have contributed
• Include puddles, wet patches, or construction debris that could shift blame

5. License Plates and Vehicle Positions

• Photograph the license plates of every vehicle involved, including those not directly hit but possibly witness vehicles
• Capture how the vehicles came to rest after impact before anyone moves them, if it’s safe to do so
• Use wide shots to show position in lanes, proximity to curbs or intersections, and direction of travel

6. Driver’s Documents

• Take a clear picture of the other driver’s insurance card and driver’s license
• Document their vehicle registration and VIN number, usually visible through the windshield
• These images help confirm identity and coverage if later disputes arise

7. Witnesses and Other People Involved

• If witnesses are present and willing, take a picture of them and their vehicle to help locate them later
• Ask for their name and contact info and document it with a quick photo
• If police, firefighters, or EMTs respond, photograph badge numbers or name tags, these may be needed later for subpoenas or court testimony

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What Not to Forget While Taking Accident Photos

In the moment, it’s easy to overlook something. But safety always comes first.

• Do not put yourself in danger to get a photo, stay out of traffic and away from unstable vehicles
• Don’t interfere with law enforcement or emergency personnel
• Avoid photographing private documents unnecessarily, like a driver’s address or unrelated items
• Never post accident photos on social media, even in private groups. insurers may find and use them out of context

The goal is to document the scene thoroughly, not to make a public statement. Let your lawyer decide what should be shared and when.

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What to Do If You Can’t Take Photos at the Scene

Not everyone is in a condition to start taking pictures after a crash and that’s okay. If you’re injured or in shock, getting medical help comes first. But when you can, there are still ways to preserve evidence.

• Ask a passenger, friend, or witness at the scene to take photos for you
• Document injuries, vehicle damage, and hospital treatments as soon as possible afterward
• Return to the scene later, if safe and legal, to photograph the area, signage, or road conditions

Even photos taken hours or days later can help establish location, environmental factors, and possible hazards that contributed to the crash.

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When to Share Photos with Your Denver Car Accident Lawyer

Photos are powerful tools, but their value depends on how and when they’re used. Don’t hand them over to insurance companies before speaking with your attorney.

At Boesen Law, our legal team uses these images to:

• Reconstruct the crash with the help of expert analysts
• Show the full extent of injury and property damage
• Challenge insurer narratives that try to minimize or distort what happened

We strongly advise against sending photos directly to the other driver’s insurance company or sharing them online. When in doubt, the safest approach is to bring all documentation to your attorney first. To learn more about how lawyers build claims using evidence like photos and witness statements, you can discuss your case with us without any upfront costs.

Strengthening Your Case with Expert Legal Review at Boesen Law

Photographs can make or break a car accident case, but only if they’re used strategically and presented correctly. At Boesen Law, we know how to take that raw documentation and turn it into compelling evidence that gets results. Our attorneys have handled thousands of cases in Denver and throughout Colorado, including complex disputes involving hit-and-runs, uninsured drivers, and commercial vehicles.

From the moment you walk into our office, we help secure and organize your photo evidence, pair it with medical records, expert testimony, and police reports, and present your story in the strongest possible way.

Just keep in mind—Colorado law only gives you a limited window to act. Under C.R.S. § 13-80-101, most personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the accident. Waiting too long can put even the best evidence at risk of being useless.

If you were injured in a crash, schedule your free consultation with Boesen Law. We’re here to help you protect your rights and pursue full compensation from day one.

Call (303) 999-9999 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form