You just got a letter that says the insurance company's crash expert used photos, video, and scene measurements to "perform photogrammetry" and map out what happened. In plain language, that means using images to calculate real-world distance, size, speed, and position. If the camera angle and reference points are good enough, a damaged car, skid mark, gouge in the road, or a person's location can be measured from pictures instead of only from someone's memory.

That matters because a wreck scene changes fast. Snow gets plowed, vehicles get moved, and on stretches like I-94 during ground blizzards, evidence can disappear within hours. Photogrammetry can help support or challenge an accident reconstruction, especially when people disagree about lane position, following distance, visibility, or point of impact. It can also show whether a driver had time to react.

For an injury claim, do not assume a photo "speaks for itself." Ask where the images came from, who took them, what measurements were used, and whether the expert had the original files instead of screenshots. Bad angles, missing scale, or edited images can lead to weak conclusions. In North Dakota, photogrammetry is not controlled by a special state deadline of its own, but it can become key evidence in proving fault, defending against a low settlement offer, or supporting damages after a serious crash.