if your car had a serious side hit, what exact photos and notes would you include so others could judge it properly?

I am not posting a real case file yet. I am practicing.

I have read enough threads here to know that good case files get good answers. Bad case files get "need more photos" or silence.

I want to get it right the first time. So I am asking the community to review my hypothetical post before I make a real one.

The hypothetical scenario

My car – let us say a 2022 Honda CR-V – was T-boned on the passenger side. Impact at the B-pillar and both doors. Airbags deployed. The car is at a shop now. I have access to take photos and gather documents.

I want to create a case file that allows experienced members to judge:

• Whether the repair plan makes sense

• Whether the shop is cutting corners

• What hidden damage to watch for

• Whether I should keep the car or push for total loss

Before I post, I want to know: what exact photos and notes would you need to give me a useful answer?

My proposed photo list

Here is what I plan to capture. Tell me what is missing, what is overkill, and what is in the wrong order.

Before repair (damage photos):

1. Overall shot of the damaged side from 10 feet away (shows the whole side of the car)

2. Close-up of the B-pillar at beltline height (where the impact likely concentrated)

3. Close-up of the rocker panel below the B-pillar

4. Close-up of the roof rail above the B-pillar

5. Both doors – open and closed – showing gaps at the pillar

6. Interior shot of the B-pillar trim removed (if the shop allows) showing the inner structure

7. Underside shot of the floor pan near the B-pillar base

8. Photo of the side curtain airbag deployed (shows impact severity)

9. Photo of the opposite side (unhit) for comparison of gaps and body lines

During repair (if the shop allows access):

1. Bare metal photo of the B-pillar after outer skin removal but before cutting

2. Photo of the cut lines marked on the pillar (shows where the shop plans to section)

3. Photo of the weld before seam sealer (shows weld quality)

4. Photo of cavity wax application (shows corrosion protection)

5. Photo of the rocker and roof rail with trim removed (shows if they are straight)

After repair:

1. Completed B-pillar with doors closed (shows gaps)

2. Close-up of the repaired area from the same angle as the damage photo (for before/after comparison)

3. Photo of the alignment sheet (if the shop provides one)

4. Photo of the invoice with line items visible (redact personal info)

My proposed notes list

Along with the photos, I plan to include:

Vehicle info:

• Year, make, model, trim, drivetrain (FWD/AWD)

• Mileage at time of crash

• Any pre-existing damage or repairs (none, or list them)

Crash details:

• Approximate speed of the other vehicle

• What part of the other vehicle hit (bumper, wheel, etc.)

• Whether the car moved after impact (slid, spun, was pushed)

Damage assessment from shop:

• Which panels are being replaced vs repaired

• Whether the B-pillar requires sectioning (and where)

• Whether the rocker or roof rail requires repair

• Whether the floor pan is damaged

• Whether the side curtain airbag and pretensioners are being replaced

Repair plan:

• Sectioning locations (measured from a reference point)

• Welding method (MIG, squeeze resistance, etc.)

• Corrosion protection plan (cavity wax, seam sealer)

• Post-repair alignment verification (will they provide a printout?)

My questions for the forum:

• 2–3 specific things I am worried about (not a list of 20)

What I need from you

1. What photo on my list is unnecessary? Something that sounds useful but never actually helps in judging a side-hit case.

2. What photo is missing? The one that first-time posters always forget but experienced members always ask for.

3. What note is too vague? Something owners write that never gives you the information you actually need.

4. What is the single most important photo in any side-hit case file? If you could only see one photo before giving advice, which one would it be?

5. For techs: what photo do you wish owners would take but almost never do? The one that would save you three back-and-forth posts asking for clarification.

What I will do with the answers

I will revise this template based on your feedback. Then I will post the final version as a sticky or a wiki for first-time posters to follow.

If I ever do post a real case file, I will use the final template.