If you are involved in a vehicle crash, you might believe you can just leave it to the police to gather evidence and determine what happened. While they normally will do this, it is always best to have some of your own evidence, too. One vital source of this is photos.
The police may have to rush off when another urgent call comes in before they have time to fully photograph the scene. Or a particular officer might be having a bad day and overlook something important that could help determine why the crash happened. If you are still in a fit state to take some pictures, then try to do so.
You want to provide as complete a picture as possible
A wide range of photos is helpful. You want to show the little details and the broad overview. Close-ups of damage to the vehicle, injuries to yourself and others should be supplemented by shots that show the amount of traffic on the road, the weather and road conditions, the overall scatter of debris, tire tracks and even crowds of onlookers. One of them might have witnessed the crash but not come forward.
If the other driver tells you not to take pictures of their vehicle or them, then you should not insist. The last thing you need is to worsen what may already be a tense situation.
Your priority should always be getting medical treatment, but if you are OK to take a few pictures while you wait for the ambulance or for the police to finish, then pull out your phone and snap away. With appropriate legal guidance, you may find you have something that could help your claim for compensation.