Dash Cam Footage as Evidence After Car Accident
If you have ever been the victim of a reckless driver who caused a car accident, you may have felt frustrated if they denied their role in it. In hindsight, you may wish you had video proof of their behavior right before the crash. Now, with the availability of dash cam footage after a car accident, you can protect yourself if someone tries to get out of their responsibility to you.
But you may be wondering if you can use dash cam footage as evidence of wrongdoing after an accident. You can provide your lawyer with dash cam footage evidence to help prove your case. However, dash cams could harm your case if you are not careful.
What Is a Dash Cam?
Dash cams are cameras that mount on your dashboard. Because you can mount the device inside your car, it is protected from weather and thieves. Dash cams mount on your windshield and record everything that happens inside or outside your car.
A reliable dash cam could potentially provide the court system with an impartial reliable record of events leading up to your accident. However, dash cams may help or hurt your case, depending on your behavior.
What Kind of Information Does Car Accident Dash Cam Footage Provide?
Many dash cams provide valuable information beyond just the video footage. Since dash cams record audio, what both parties say during or after an accident could also affect a case. Many dash cams also include a record of when the footage was recorded. This record, included as a watermark in the video, may include the date and time of the footage in question.
Some dash cams also provide location coordinates, establishing where the footage was recorded, when, and even how fast the vehicle was traveling. If your dash cam lets you record different views of what is happening in front of you, this additional data could offer more detail into the circumstances surrounding your accident.
Are Dash Cams Legal in Florida?
Currently, Florida laws do not mention dash cams specifically. However, state law makes it illegal to put any object on your windshield that is not transparent and blocks your view while driving.
While the term “obstruction” could be interpreted in different ways, if your dash cam does not obstruct your view, there is no Florida law saying you can’t use it.
Can I Use Dash Cam Footage in Court?
If your dash cam footage was made in a public area, you will likely be able to use it in court. The footage would have to be authenticated first, which means you would need to prove the footage was recorded in your car at the date, time, and location of your accident. Your Fort Myers car accident attorney can advise you on the standards the recording must meet and other things you must do so that the footage is admissible in court.
Provided your footage meets those standards, having dash cam footage could be useful in settlement negotiations before your case goes to trial. However, it is important to note that dash cam footage is not the factor that decides the case in a party’s favor.
Having Clear Dash Cam Video Footage Is Important
A sticking point is how clear your footage is. Grainy or unclear footage may not be much help to your case if the details are not apparent. Also, even clear footage is not useful if it doesn’t show what was happening before the accident, let alone the accident itself.
Can My Dash Cam Footage Hurt or Help My Case?
Dash cam footage is a double-edged sword. If it shows the other driver breaking the law or doing anything that shows they are responsible for your accident, that clearly helps your case. But the same holds true for you.
How Can Dash Can Footage Hurt My Case?
If your dash cam footage shows you doing anything illegal, it could hurt your case. Also, if your footage shows you doing something that contributed to the accident, your dash cam could be damaging to your account of events.
While dash cam footage that clearly shows the other driver driving recklessly or doing something that caused the accident, your own behavior could come back to haunt you. If you were speeding or didn’t signal before changing lanes, the other party’s representatives could use that against you.
How Can Dash Cam Footage Help My Case?
Dash cam footage that clearly shows the other car driving wildly, carelessly, or out of control can bolster your case. Any footage recorded after the accident could be important, too.
If your dash cam records the other driver yelling at you or threatening anyone in your group, that could affect the case’s outcome.
Get a Free Case Evaluation Today
If you feel another driver’s negligence caused your car accident, call us today. The attorney team at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato offers a free case evaluation. We will listen to your account of the accident to learn what happened and guide you on the next steps to take action in your case. We can also advise you on whether our Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer can use dash cam footage as evidence after your car accident.
A negligent driver should not go unpunished. You may be eligible to seek and recover financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering stemming from your injuries. Contact our offices at (954) 633-8270 today.
