Dash cams are becoming more and more commonplace—and for excellent reasons.
The primary purpose of a dash cam is to capture video footage of anything that happens on the road. This includes collisions, self-accidents, traffic incidents and other events that might lead to disputes.
The footage on your dash cam can serve as objective evidence when you file a personal injury claim. Below are several advantages a dash cam can offer, as well as a few limitations you need to be aware of.
What are the benefits of dash cam footage?
If you do not have a dash cam installed in your vehicle, here are several reasons why you should have one:
- Objective evidence: As mentioned, dash cams provide unbiased, real-time footage of an incident. If you get into an accident, this kind of evidence can be crucial in determining fault and liability.
- Faster claim resolution: Clear video evidence can help speed up the claims process by reducing disputes over what happened. This is especially true when filing a claim with another driver’s insurance company.
- Protection against fraud: Some people cause accidents on purpose to get insurance payouts. Footage can help prevent these fraudulent claims by showing exactly what happened during the accident. For example, a driver purposely taking over your lane and then stopping abruptly may be trying to get you to hit them so they can claim compensation.
- Corroboration: If there are conflicting accounts of a collision, dash cam footage can help corroborate your story. On the other hand, it can also dismantle false claims made by another driver.
Essentially, a dash cam gives you video evidence of your point of view during the accident. If another driver caused the accident, your footage could make it easier to prove fault, support your claim and avoid ‘he said, she said’ scenarios.
Are there any limitations?
While a dash cam can be an excellent source of evidence, it is not always 100 percent effective. For instance, dash cams typically only capture what is happening in the front of the vehicle. This might result in limited evidence for rear-end and side-impact collisions.
Moreover, dash cam footage may not always be clear enough to provide definitive proof. The camera’s quality, lighting conditions and weather can affect the effectiveness of your footage.
That said, it is still important to consult a legal professional who can help strengthen your case. If you have been hurt by someone else’s negligence, a personal injury attorney can help you gather evidence and seek fair compensation for your injuries.