How Dashcams Impact a Car Accident Claim

Dashcams continue to increase in popularity. According to some surveys, about 3 in 10 drivers already have a dashcam installed. These tiny cameras attach to your vehicle’s dash and will record whatever is happening in front of the car. Dashcams are popular since they can show a motorist was not at fault for a collision. Increasingly, we see dashcam evidence as part of car accident cases. This footage can make or break some cases, as our Sioux Falls car accident lawyer explains below.

4 Ways a Dashcam Bolsters Your Case

Our lawyers always check if there is dashcam footage of a client’s accident available, because it’s solid evidence to use for the following:

1. Establish fault for the car crash. Dashcam footage helps us see the accident, at least what happened in front of the car. For example, it might show that you had a green light at an intersection, but a driver cut you off, pulling directly in front of you. That type of evidence helps the insurance companies see which driver is at fault for the collision.
2. Disprove your own negligence. Your own negligence could undercut your legal claim for compensation or possibly bar you from receiving any money entirely. The other driver might allege you ran a red light, but the dashcam footage clearly shows you had a green light.
3. Show weather conditions. Sometimes our state’s weather contributes to a crash. Freezing rain and snow can send vehicles skidding, which might explain why you crashed. A dashcam can also help prove visibility.
4. Support the severity of the crash. Dashcam footage can show your accident wasn’t a minor fender bender but was instead a major collision.
5. Suggest the other driver was drunk. The camera might also record your interactions with the other driver following the crash. They could be stumbling around or slurring their words. This footage might back up your allegation they were intoxicated, which contributed to the crash.

What if you don’t have a dashcam installed? That’s okay. The good news is that another driver might have one which captured the accident. This is one reason to speak with witnesses after a car wreck. We can use their testimony, but it would be even better if they had a dashcam which we could use for your case. Ask them if they have a camera installed and then ask if you can watch the video. Or at least get their name so your attorney can follow up and review evidence.

Speak with an Attorney Today

A Sioux Falls car accident lawyer at Hoy Law can meet to discuss your accident, including what evidence you have in your possession.  We can listen to you describe the accident and your injuries before offering our perspective on the strength of your claim. Once hired, we go the extra mile to gather solid evidence to help prove which driver is at fault for the crash. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney.

Sources:

autoinsurance.com/research/dash-cam-usage-report/

sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/20-9-