Touch screen not working? Need to back up?

What version of iOS are you using? What version of iTunes? If your Touchscreen isn't working, there is no way around that, unless you happened to have iCloud backup activated before this. If you did, you should be able to plug the iPhone into power while connected to Wi-Fi and it should backup. But if you just backup to iTunes, then with a non-functioning screen, you cannot backup.

Why would you not have backed up before? Photos, are also designed to be imported to the device, or to iCloud Photos after taking. Did you have iCloud photo enabled?

Is the screen just cracked, or did something else happen?

Kirstinhammy wrote:

I only have iPads and iPhones in house no PC or laptop to back photos onto.

could a screen be replaced without deleting data?

If you have nothing to import photos to, then you need to fix that access to iCloud, else you could lose all of your photos.

It is possible the screen could be replaced without losing any data, however, if it is more than just the screen, it may not be it. There is no guarantee, but you can ask Apple. What version of the iPhone are you using?

If there is more damage to the device than the screen, it will require the device to be wiped, so they can reconfigure the screen assembly with the device. It could also require the replacement of the phone. Apple not being able to retrieve the photos is no more crazy than you not importing important photos. If you have been following the news in the US lately, you would know that Apple has no access to data on your device to remove it, if the device is locked and/or not trusted. Something that has been the subject of a court battle with Apple and the Department of Justice.