Founder and Managing Partner
Although many people purchase dashboard-mounted video cameras, called “dashcams,” to document what happens if they get stopped by the police, these devices can provide powerful evidence in the event of a car accident. If the at-fault driver tries to lie his way out of being liable for your injuries and losses, video footage can tell the truth about what caused the collision.
A California personal injury attorney can advocate for you and go after money damages if you are hurt in a crash that was someone else’s fault. Let’s explore how using dashcam evidence in your car accident claim could make all the difference.
Does California Allow the Use of Dash Cams in Motor Vehicles?
Yes, our state allows people to install and use dash cams in their private vehicles, but with some limitations. You cannot obstruct the visibility of the windshield, so the dashcam cannot be large. The size limit depends on where you have the camera installed, like in the upper center or lower right-hand corner of the windshield. You cannot install the camera in the path of an airbag if it were to deploy.
You must inform all occupants of your car if the dashcam records audio in addition to video. Also, your recording device must be able to store the recordings.
What Helpful Information Can a Dash Cam Capture of a Collision?
The types of data a dash cam can record will depend on the features available on the unit you buy. Some dash cams can monitor the driving habits of the person operating your vehicle, including their speed. This feature could be useful if the other driver claims that you were speeding, but you were not.
When you review your dashcam footage after a car accident, you might discover mistakes the other driver made that you did not notice at the time. Having a video of what caused the collision can show who was at fault, the intensity of the impact, and what people did afterward. In the event of a hit-and-run crash, your dashcam footage might help the police catch the driver who left the scene illegally.
Your dash cam could be evidence for another driver even if you were not in the collision. Let’s say that a car in front of you got “t-boned” by someone who ran a red light. Your dashcam footage could help the innocent driver win his case.
What Are the Limits of Dash Cams?
The camera can only record events in one direction, and a collision could happen on any of the four sides of your vehicle. For example, if your camera is mounted on the dashboard of your car facing forward, and someone veers into your lane, striking your vehicle, the camera might catch good footage.
If someone hits the back of your car, a forward-facing camera will not capture useful footage. A dashcam might catch some relevant information in a side-impact collision, for example, of traffic signals and things that led up to the accident, even if it does not capture the impact.
You will need to have the dashcam set to run automatically whenever you drive your car or remember to turn the device on every time you operate your vehicle. The camera has to run continuously to capture unexpected events. You can talk to a California personal injury attorney about your car accident and get help seeking compensation from the negligent party for your injuries. Contact our office today for a free consultation.