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Dash Cam Footage: How Useful Can It Be?
For the longest time, determining liability in many car accident cases has been a challenging task. There are many tools one can use to prove who was liable in a car accident, but many of them can be claimed to be subjective and unreliable. Testimonies are still an important part of many legal disputes but are not objective proof in the way videographic evidence can be. New advancements, such as traffic light cameras or security cameras, have helped mitigate this issue. However, only some streets, highways, or parking lots are equipped with this technology.
Thankfully, with the emergence of dashcams, drivers have found a new tool to record critical moments or details of an accident to prove they were not at fault. Dash cams are becoming more and more common for the average driver, and reasonably so. Dashcams continuously record footage of the road before the car and sometimes behind it. This can play an essential role in refuting or corroborating a legal claim. If you are still determining whether dashcam footage that you have of your accident can help you or not, The Weinberger Law Firm has attorneys you can discuss with to clear up any confusion you might have. Call 916-661-4464 today to schedule an appointment with a lawyer at The Weinberger Law Firm.
Determining Liability with Dash Cam Footage
Dash cam footage is an extremely useful tool for more than one reason. It protects from false claims and can confirm that another car was at fault for a car accident. It provides a visually objective account of the events before, during, and after the accident. It can help determine fault in many ways, which include but are not limited to:
- If the other car was exceeding the speed limit, dash cam footage can provide evidence.
- The footage can show whether or not the other driver used their turning signals, checked their blind spot, or took appropriate safety measures to turn or switch lanes correctly.
- It can show if the other driver made an illegal turn or did not follow traffic signs correctly.
- The footage can determine if the other driver ran a red light or didn’t yield at a stop sign when they were supposed to
Any of these violations caught on camera can directly prove liability. If you need more information on what counts as a traffic violation in California, California’s DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) has an official government website detailing traffic rules and conditions every driver must follow.
Legal Challenges Dash Cam Footage Could Face
However useful dash cam footage might be, it isn’t flawless either. In California, dashcam footage is generally permitted as evidence, but the state also has privacy laws that every party involved must adhere to. The two main factors one should consider are establishing relevancy to the case and adhering to privacy laws. Establishing relevancy involves things such as proving the footage was recorded at the time and day of the accident and ensuring the footage has not been tampered with (such as having been edited with sophisticated computer software). Adhering to privacy laws mostly involves recording audio with consent if you have been previously authorized to do so. Dashcam footage with audio may face more challenges in determining liability than one without audio.
Additionally, while undoubtedly useful, dashcam footage only sometimes captures the details needed to prove your claim. Dash cam footage can often be obstructed in unexpected ways and not record the event from an angle that is helpful to either party. Not only that, but dash cam footage can vary widely in quality and fail to capture other important factors potentially related to the accident, such as weather conditions like rain or wet roads. If you have dashcam footage of your accident, review it to determine if it falls within these limitations.
Is It a Good Idea To Use Dash Cam Footage For Your Case?
By recording critical moments before, during, and after an accident, dash cam footage can provide crucial details related to the event that other types of evidence cannot. Additionally, videographic evidence commonly enhances the credibility of your claim since it is considered objective evidence. As long as you follow California privacy laws and your dashcam footage is proven relevant to your case, it can be essential in resolving a legal dispute in your favor. With all of that being said, while dashcam footage is undoubtedly useful, it should not be your only means of evidence for your case.
Any type of legal dispute can be overwhelming and stressful for many people. Hiring a personal injury lawyer will help you build a strong claim in addition to your collected evidence. It can assist in navigating legal processes that you might be unfamiliar with. At The Weinberger Law Firm, attorneys will work with you to make certain your rights are protected throughout a legal dispute and will be happy to help you with your personal injury claim. Call The Weinberger Law Firm today at 916-661-4464 or visit our website to schedule an appointment to discuss your case in further detail.
