How Dashcam Footage Can Impact a Car Accident Case

In the past, being involved in a car accident would often result in a ‘he said/she said’ debate between the drivers. With the advancement of technology, drivers now have the ability to record their every move with a dashcam. Dashcam footage can make or break an accident injury case, especially for someone who has been injured in a crash by a driver that fled the scene.

Video evidence of a motor vehicle crash is neutral even though it can be culled from either the victim’s camera or the defendant’s camera. Video does not lie. Dashcam footage can impact a car accident case in many ways, and the footage might not always paint the driver who was driving the car with the dashcam in a favorable light.

If you were injured in a car accident, consult the experienced personal injury attorneys at Whibbs, Stone & Barnett about your case. Call our office at 850-500-1111 to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team.

Proof the Accident Happened

Dashcams have made it more difficult for insurance fraud to occur. Video evidence provides a true account of what has and has not happened. When dashcam footage is presented in a personal injury case it will show proof of the accident.

Having dashcam footage to present to the at-fault party’s lawyer makes it easier to resolve a claim, especially if the defendant tried to lie to cover up their actions. When dashcam footage is provided as part of a car accident investigation you can push the at-fault party’s insurance company to make a settlement offer.

Dashcam footage can help your attorney determine the following:

The behavior of the other driver in the moments leading up to the accident
The speed of the vehicle at the time of impact
The road conditions when the crash occurred
The weather conditions at the time of the accident

Evidence That You Were Driving Safely

One of the biggest impacts of dashcam footage in a car accident case is that it can show you were driving safely when the crash occurred. Watching dashcam footage from the moments before a crash can show how you operate your vehicle, including the following:

That you travel at safe speeds
That you take turns safely
That you use your turn signals
That you apply the brakes easily
That you do not tailgate

When these driving habits are captured in the video, it becomes difficult for the at-fault driver to discredit you as a safe driver at the time of the crash. When a personal injury attorney can include your safe driving habits while showing proof of the other driver’s erratic and dangerous behavior it increases the chances of your claim being successful.

Dashcam Footage Provides Timestamps

The timestamps from dashcam footage can be very useful in a personal injury claim following a car accident. Timestamps can be helpful in determining the following:

If weather played a role in the crash
If speed was a factor
If the vehicle was even in the area of a crash when the driver claims it occurred

Dashcam Footage May Provide Audio

In some circumstances, dashcam footage might also record audio with the video. This can be very helpful for personal injury attorneys working to recover compensation on your behalf. If the footage pulled from the at-fault driver’s vehicle recorded audio, it might have picked up on the following, all of which can help prove fault in your case:

The driver was blaring music
The driver was talking on the phone
The driver mentioned aloud their sleepiness, that they were taking medication, or that they were under the influence

The Footage Can Show You Were Also at Fault

As we touched on previously, dashcam footage pulled from either vehicle involved in a crash might also show you were partially at fault. Florida is a comparative negligence state, which means that fault is assigned to all drivers involved in a crash. If the dashcam footage shows you were partially at fault, you will need to take on some of the responsibility for the crash.

Contact Whibbs, Stone & Barnett Today for a Consultation

Have you been injured in a car accident? Do you have dashcam footage of the crash that left you injured? The experienced personal injury team at Whibbs, Stone & Barnett will examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, collect evidence, and interview witnesses in an effort to help you recover maximum compensation. Contact our office at 850-500-1111 to schedule a free consultation today. We represent clients in the Florida Panhandle and nearby Alabama communities.