Despite the advances in safety technology in today’s motor vehicles, car accidents continue to happen every day. Depending on the severity of the accident, they can cause serious injuries and considerable property damage. If you are the victim of a car accident, you will have the burden of proving that the other motorist was at fault to recover the financial compensation you deserve. Dashboard cameras – or dashcams – provide objective, impartial, visual documentation of the moments leading up to the crash.
Ultimately, the evidence provided by the dashcam can be the key to settling a dispute if you and the other motorist have differing opinions about what happened and who is at fault. An experienced car accident lawyer will review the footage from the dashcam, as well as pictures, witness statements, and any other evidence available, assist you with the claims process, and pursue the maximum financial compensation you deserve.
How Do Dashcams Work?
Dashcams are small video recorders that are generally mounted to the dashboard or windshield. They typically feature a wide-angle lens which allows them to capture a comprehensive view of the road ahead. Depending on the make and model of the dashcam, they offer a range of features, including the following:
- Record visual footage at the front and side of the vehicle
- Record interior video and audio
- Register the speed of your vehicle
- Automatically activates when the car is placed in gear
- Activates in response to motion inside, around, or near the vehicle
How Can Dashcam Footage Prove Fault After an Accident?
In most cases, car accident victims have to rely on pictures from the scene of the accident, witness testimonies, and statements from both motorists involved to provide the evidence needed to pursue a personal injury claim. However, a dashcam can offer indisputable evidence that can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the other driver caused the accident.
The following are the benefits of dashcams:
- Objective Documentation: Dashcams continuously record a range of important information, including the driving speed of both vehicles, current road conditions, and the actions of the other motorists involved in the accident. The footage collected by the dashcam provides an unbiased account of the events leading up to the accident. The recordings provide evidence of the events before, during, and after the accident.
- Prove Fault and Liability: To recover the damages you deserve, you will need to prove that the other driver was at fault. Dashcam footage will show the other driver’s negligent behavior, supporting your claim for financial compensation. If your case goes to trial, the dashcam footage lets the jury see firsthand how the accident occurred and who was at fault.
- Resolve Conflicting Narratives: You and the other driver may have differing opinions about what happened and who is at fault. Dashcam footage can provide invaluable, objective evidence about the events leading up to the accident and who is responsible for causing it.
- Strengthen Insurance Claims: You must provide the necessary evidence when filing a personal injury claim. Dashcam footage provides valuable evidence for insurance adjusters reviewing your claim. In addition to helping the insurance adjuster make a more informed evaluation of your claim’s value, the presence of dashcam footage can expedite the claims process and ensure that you reach a fair settlement.
- Capture Eyewitness Accounts: Dashcam footage can also capture reactions from pedestrians and nearby motorists. This can strengthen a witness’s statement, support your statement, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the accident and who was at fault.
- Encourage Safer Driving Behaviors: The presence of a dashcam and knowing that your actions are being recorded can be a proactive reminder to follow the rules of the road, avoid distractions, and make safety a top priority at all times. This can reduce the risk of future accidents.
What Factors Do I Need to Keep in Mind When Using a Dashcam?
In addition to the benefits discussed above, dashcams are fairly simple to install and use. However, before you purchase a dashcam and install it in your vehicle, make sure that you consider the following factors:
- Make sure that dashcams are allowed under your local privacy laws.
- Protect your dashcam footage by creating strong encryption that prevents unauthorized access.
- Make sure the dashcam is mounted correctly to capture the footage without obstructions.
- Check and manage the storage capacity regularly so that the dashcam continues to record. Consider looping features that overwrite old footage.
- Consider a high-quality dashcam that provides consistently reliable performance. A decent-quality dashcam costs between $60 and $150.
How Do I Access Dashcam Footage?
Footage from a dashcam can provide extremely valuable evidence to support a personal injury claim and ensure you recover the damages you are entitled to. To access that footage, download the data to an SD card, thumb drive, or hard drive to ensure that it is in a safe location. Consider uploading the footage to cloud storage as an extra safety precaution. Share the footage with your car accident lawyer, who can evaluate the evidence, help you navigate the claims process, and pursue the financial compensation you deserve.
The Cincinnati Car Accident Lawyers at Wolterman Law Office Represent Victims of Car Accidents
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a car accident, it is highly recommended that you contact the Cincinnati car accident lawyers at Wolterman Law Office as soon as possible. We will thoroughly review all the evidence, including the footage from the dashcam. To schedule a free, confidential consultation, call us today at 513-488-1135 or contact us online. Our office is located in Loveland, Ohio, where we serve clients in Hamilton County, Fairfield, Norwood, and Forest Park.