The best way to describe exactly what happened is by proving an Accident Diagram.
But how do you draw one that will get results?
Being able to produce a good accident diagram can balance the odds in your favor. 90% of the claims that I took to arbitration I won because of my diagrams. You do not have to be an expert to have well drawn accident diagram. You simply need to convey the idea of what happened. Car can simply be boxes. This is what a police officer diagram looks like:
I suggest you visit
Google Earth,
and first look at a satellite picture of the accident scene. If you were involved in a parking lot accident, then this step is essential. A good
Google Earth
picture can show you lanes of travel, buildings, visibility issues, lights. Here is an example:
If you decide to work with a
Google Earth
picture when creating your accident diagram, then attach this picture to your diagram. It will show that you have research the area, and the person looking at your diagram will see that you are not just drawing any street; you are drawing the actual scene of the accident.
I had couple of insureds print the
Google
picture and then draw on top of it. If this works for you, and it is crystal clear. Then go for it. Before you summit the accident diagram, make sure a third person looks at it and understands what you are trying to convey. I had some clients do great diagrams, but they would paint the vehicles on the wrong side of the road. A silly mistake perhaps, but I knew I could not present the diagram to the arbitration panel.
I believe if you have any computer skills, then the best thing to do is to diagram right in your computer. You only need Microsoft Word and/or Paint. Most PC’s have this programs. That is all I did when I draw diagrams (I was the only adjuster that did this! Most of my coworkers would only do it by hand). Using a computer will allow you to email the diagram easily, have color, and represent movement (by fading vehicles). It just looks a lot more professional.
Do not worry if you cannot draw very well. The work is already done for you! below you will find my templates for all the most common accidents so you can download and then draw.
Here are two of examples:
The creation a good accident diagram could take a long time to develop. I have uploaded some generic diagrams that I believe are the most common, and that you could use as templates to save some time on handling your claim. I would say that a good diagram could tilt an indecisive adjuter, jury, judge, or arbitration panel to rule in your favor.
You will need to download two different files. The first one is
Accident Diagrams Tools
which is where you will find vehicles, arrows, traffic sings, etc.
Click here to download
The Second is the basic scene (intersections, four lane highway, two lane road etc.)
The idea is that you copy and past the vehicles into the scene recreating the facts of the accident.
1. After you have the scene and the diagram template are opened (two Microsoft Files), you want to start your diagram from the point of impact. The solid Blue, or Green vehicles represent this point on time. Add on top of where the vehicles were hit a red start, to represent the point of impact on the vehicles.
2. Work backwards from the point of impact with the vehicles that are faded (faded blue, green, and brown). This way the illusion of a time sequence is recreated.
3. Add all the traffic signals and speed limits, and do not forget the names of the streets.
4. Finally, add text boxes and explain where each driver saw each other, and what kind of reactive driving did they take.
5. You can print the diagram or email to your adjuster. You are done!
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