How Dashcam Footage Can Impact a Car Accident Case

Technology has completely changed how we drive cars. In some cases, that’s not such good news—it’s easier than ever to get distracted while driving, as car accident statistics across the country demonstrate. In other cases, though, technology actually makes us safer and gives you a leg up when you need to hold someone accountable.

Consider the dashcam. Once only present in police vehicles, a wide range of dashcams are now available for consumer use, providing clear proof of what happened in a crash. If you’ve been hurt in a crash, find out what your dashcam might do for your injury claim. When you’re ready to get started on your claim, call Nowell Law Firm at 864-707-1785.

Clear and Usable Footage

To start, make sure that your dashcam is providing you with clear and usable footage. It’s devastating to get involved in an accident and have the other party deny fault, only to find that your dashcam was actually pointed at the side of the road the whole time. Make it part of your maintenance routine to check the dashcam’s angle, battery level, and other needs. You’ll want to ensure that you have an angle that captures side-impact crashes and rear-impact or front-impact collisions, depending on where your dashcam is mounted.

What Does Law Enforcement Think of Dashcam Footage?

Clear dashcam footage actually makes law enforcement’s job easier. When they report to the scene of an accident, it can be difficult to discern the truth—especially if both parties are telling opposite stories. The dashcam is a neutral third party that shows what actually happened, making it much easier for the police officer to write proper citations and provide an accurate accident report.

Proving the Circumstances of an Accident

The biggest benefit of a dashcam is its ability to prove exactly what happened during a crash. This can go both ways for you. If you are not at fault, it can show exactly what the other party did wrong to cause a collision. If you are at fault, your dashcam may show where you swerved, changed lanes without looking, or drove too fast for conditions.

A dashcam can also paint a broader picture of what happened prior to the crash. Consider, for example, a car that sideswipes you and runs you into the median. Your dashcam may have been recording for your entire drive, showing the other car pass you multiple times, switch lanes erratically, only to get caught in traffic and fall behind.

Showing a pattern of bad driving can only help your claim. Again, this can also backfire on you. For example, if your dashcam has audio footage of you talking on the phone, texting, or otherwise distracting yourself while driving, that will work against you.

What If the Other Party Has a Dashcam?

You know how having your own dashcam can help you, but what happens if the other party has a dashcam and you want to access the footage? To start, you’ll want to notify the police immediately that the other party has a dashcam in the car.

They can request it and check out the footage to see what happened during the accident. This also gives them a chance to tell the other party not to delete the footage. Otherwise, if the footage is bad for the other driver, you may find that the footage goes mysteriously missing by the time you tell your attorney.

After that, you’ll want to let your attorney know immediately about the other driver’s dashcam. They can ask for the footage from the insurance company or subpoena it from the driver. This allows them to use the footage in a way that benefits your claim and streamlines the process of asking for compensation.

Begin Your Personal Injury Claim with Nowell Law Firm

Adding a dashcam to your front window, back window, or both is an excellent investment for your safety. If you’ve been hurt in an accident and you think you deserve compensation, it’s time to talk to a personal injury attorney. The team at Nowell Law Firm is here to help as you recover. Schedule a time to talk more about your accident and take the next step in your claim. You can call us at 864-707-1785 or reach us online.