Safety first, documentation second
Immediately after a traffic accident, the priorities are to prevent another collision, call for help for anyone injured, and follow the authorities’ instructions. Begin collecting digital records only if the surroundings are safe. Do not step into moving traffic to take photographs, and do not move injured people or vehicles unless required for safety or instructed by the authorities.
In Türkiye, the Mobile Accident Report service is available through the Sigortam360 app. The system allows users to enter license plate and driver details, add photos and videos, record the location, and match the parties using a QR code. However, not every incident is suitable for a mobile report. Official assistance may be required in cases involving injury, damage to public property, or disagreement between the parties. Rather than trying to classify the circumstances at the scene legally by yourself, follow the latest guidance from SBM and the authorities.
Capture images in a defined sequence
Instead of taking random close-ups, create a series that tells the whole story of the incident. From a safe position, first record an overview of the road, the vehicles’ positions, lanes, intersection, traffic signs, visibility, and weather conditions. Then photograph the vehicles from different angles, their license plates, points of impact, marks on the ground, and damage to the surroundings. For each detail, pair a medium-distance shot showing the context with a close-up showing the damage.
When recording video, describe visible facts rather than making definitive statements about fault. For example, instead of saying, “The other vehicle was going very fast,” show the road surface, the direction in which the traffic light is located, and the vehicles’ final positions. If nearby businesses have security cameras, note their addresses and the direction the cameras face; notify the insurer or competent authority rather than trying to obtain the footage yourself.
Do not edit the original files
Phone photos may contain metadata such as the capture time, device information, and, where permission has been granted, location. Messaging and social media apps may compress or rename files or remove some metadata. Therefore, preserve the original files in a separate folder before cropping, applying filters, taking screenshots, adding annotations, or renaming files in bulk.
If the phone’s clock is incorrect, do not alter the file to correct it. Record the approximate time discrepancy in the incident log and, if possible, correlate it with another reliable record created at the same time. An image’s metadata alone does not prove the incident as a whole; the image’s content, consistency with other records, and method of preservation are assessed together.
Prevent dashcam footage from being overwritten
Dashcams commonly use loop recording, which overwrites older footage. When it is safe, protect the incident file using the camera’s lock function or turn off the device as instructed by the manufacturer. Driving for an extended period while trying to locate the important recording may increase the risk of its deletion.
If you removed the memory card, note which camera it came from, when it was removed, and its capacity. Do not format the card or accept a repair prompt. Because a phone or computer may automatically create folders when the card is inserted, use a write-protected reader if possible. Preserve footage from the front, rear, and cabin cameras, as well as the minutes before and after the accident. A video uploaded only to social media is not a reliable archive; the platform may re-encode it, or you may lose access to your account.
Create two copies and an incident log
Copy the files to two separate storage locations as soon as possible. For example, you could keep one copy on a computer with disk encryption enabled and the other in a trusted cloud account protected by multifactor authentication. Keep the original folder separate from the working copy. If editing, masking faces, or reducing file size is necessary, do so only on the working copy.
In a simple incident log, record the file’s source, who copied it and when, where it is stored, and to whom it was delivered. If you have the technical knowledge, you can generate a SHA-256 hash for each original file. This hash can later be used to check whether the file has changed at the bit level. A checksum alone, however, does not prove when or by whom an image was captured; the original file and incident log must still be preserved.
Do not treat the mobile report as your only archive
When using the Mobile Accident Report, upload the photos and videos, check the location information, complete the matching of the parties, and read the preview carefully. Correct typographical errors in the license plate, policy, driver, and contact details before approval. Once the process is complete, save the screen showing the application details and the final document, if accessible.
Files submitted through the app should not replace your personal archive. Preserve the original images on the phone and find out which file formats the insurance company accepts. Before lowering the quality of a large video to meet an email size limit, ask the company about its secure upload channel.
Use location and connected-vehicle data sparingly
The phone’s location history, an emergency-call record, or journey information from a connected-car app may support the timing of the incident. Because these services have varying retention periods, do not delay any necessary export. Conversely, do not give the other party your entire account history. Limit the relevant date range and ask the insurer, lawyer, or competent authority about the required format and scope.
License plates, faces, identity documents, phone numbers, and precise locations may contain personal data. Preserving evidence does not grant the right to publish it. Keep the original archive intended for the authorized process unaltered; if public sharing is genuinely necessary, mask irrelevant faces, documents, and location details only in a separate copy. Do not publish images of injured people or children.
Final check before submission
Verify that the files open from the copies, but do not edit anything on the original card or phone. Link the original files, working copies, checksum list, incident log, report, and application information within the same case structure. If there is a possibility of serious injury, a dispute, or a criminal investigation, seek professional legal assistance before resetting the device or deleting data.
This method does not guarantee that any record will be accepted as evidence. Its purpose is to preserve digital material relating to the accident in a clear, integrity-verifiable, and privacy-conscious manner.