Can Dash Cams Help with Your Car Accident Claim?
Dash cams are small video cameras that can be mounted to your car’s dashboard or windshield to record what happens in front of your vehicle. According to Consumerist.com, more advanced models of these cameras can also record interior audio and video and rear-facing video. Some models even display your rearview mirror or stream to the Internet. Consumerist reports that more people in the U.S. are buying and installing these dash cams in their vehicles largely because of falling prices (you could pick one up for $50 to $200) and due to more awareness among consumers.
The Consumer Technology Association reports that sales of dash cams were up 10 percent in 2016 and are expected to increase an additional 15 percent in 2017 generating $68 million in revenue this year. To address the issue of whether these devices are legal to use – they are legal for the most part on public roadways as long as you don’t violate any laws or interfere with law enforcement’s ability to do their jobs. In many states, it is illegal to record conversations in the vehicle without informing all parties first. However, if you just want to use a dash cam as a way of getting evidence in the event of a car crash, it is legal to do so.
How Can a Dash Cam Help?
For starters, it can help you get evidence for your insurance claim. At this time, insurance companies are not offering any discounts on premiums for dash cam owners, but they do accept dash cam footage as evidence for a claim just as they accept photographs snapped at the scene with a cell phone. Dash cams also make it easier for police to investigate traffic accidents of all types by allowing them to document witness statements and produce evidence for court.
In addition, dash cams can help prove that you are not at fault. Whether it’s disputing a ticket or proving your side of the story in a car accident, dash cam footage can help. However, remember that it is a double-edged sword. A defense attorney or insurance company can pick apart the footage to see if you were doing something wrong at the time. If there is any indication of that they might try to pin the fault on you.
If You Have Been Injured
If you have been injured in an auto accident, having a dash cam on your car alone is not enough. You still need to take all the steps that one should take in the aftermath of a crash such as filing a police report, taking photographs at the scene, talking to eyewitnesses, getting contact information, seeking medical attention etc. It is also important to contact an experienced car accident lawyer who will help you navigate what could be a complex legal process and ensure that you secure maximum compensation for your injuries, damages and losses.
If you have been involved in a car crash, contact an experienced Los Angeles Car Accident Lawyer as soon as possible.