Frequently, even before first responders arrive by-standers and witnesses will be the first to use their phones to take photographs and film video footage of an incident. Be proactive and ask them to share the most pertinent material — they will usually be helpful and forthcoming. Once first responders (and later investigators) arrive, photographs and videos should be shot from both a micro and macro perspective, to show the incident area from both close up, as well as in context with its surroundings. Investigators should take a uniform approach here; conditions change so it is important to mitigate the variability from one incident to the next. Everything — even aspects that will hurt your case — should be photographed or shot on video. Should litigation arise, your insurance carrier and attorney need to see the good with the bad so they are never surprised by evidence presented by the opposition.