Car accidents can occur in a blink of an eye. One minute you are driving safely down the road, then out of the blue, another vehicle slammed into yours. Because accidents happen quickly, suddenly, and violently, you may not be able to recall what happened or prove who was at fault. Witnesses can be helpful, but they are not always around and can be unreliable. Dashboard cameras (dashcams) have become commonplace in other counties. Still, they have not caught on in the U.S. These devices can be very valuable in providing the crucial evidence you need to prove who was at fault and help you get the compensation you deserve if you have suffered damages due to another driver’s negligence. Here are the top five reasons you should consider getting a dashcam in your vehicle.
What Is A Dash Cam?
A dashcam is a small camera typically mounted on your car’s dashboard or windshield. This device faces the road, so it records what you see when driving. Most dash cams start recording as soon as you turn on your car and stop when you turn it off. Dashcams usually have internal memory, which stores the footage of you driving. This means that the camera will automatically save the video of your drive, and it can be downloaded later if you need to view it. Still, the camera’s internal memory will not last forever, so you may need to erase it when full if you want to continue recording.
Why Get A Dash Cam?
Almost nothing is more helpful in proving what happened leading up to a car accident than a video. If you are involved in a car accident, and there are no witnesses, it may become a he-said-she-said battle in determining who was at fault. If your car was damaged and you have sustained injuries from a crash, you may have no way to prove that it was not your fault. You may get stuck with paying for repairs and medical treatment out of pocket. Because a dashcam records what happened immediately before a crash, it can help show who was at fault and save you thousands of dollars. Your insurance company may even give you a discount on your monthly premiums if you install a dashcam in your vehicle.
What Does The Law Say About Dash Cams?
In Georgia, dash cams are legal. Still, you will want to check if the camera you have purchased is allowed. You will also want to ensure that you mount your camera in a way that will not block your view of the road. Cameras mounted on the dashboard or on the part of the windshield that is out of your field of view should be fine. Your camera will also need to record continuous video, meaning that you will not have to operate it manually while driving.
Dash Cams And Car Accidents
Because the question of who is at fault in a car accident can become a hotly disputed debate, some countries require all drivers to have one in their vehicle. While the U.S. does not have this requirement, it is easy to see why other nations do. A common type of car accident is the rear-end collision. This accident usually happens when one vehicle is following another too closely. If you are involved in a rear-end collision, a dashcam will show whether you were following too closely or if the other vehicle slammed on its brakes and caused the accident. A dashcam can also show if a car abruptly switches lanes in front of you and causes a crash.
If your car accident results in a lawsuit, the footage of the collision may be admissible in court to show who was at fault and help clear your name or assist in getting the compensation you deserve.
Dash Cams Can Prevent Fraud
Unfortunately, there are people out there who commit fraud by provoking an accident so they can collect money from you or your insurance company. These individuals will hop out in front of cars or suddenly slam on their brakes for no reason in hopes that you will run into the back of their vehicle. A working dash cam can help expose these criminals and protect you from being the victim of their fraudulent schemes. Without a dashcam, it can be incredibly difficult to prove that you were not at fault if there were no witnesses and the physical evidence is not conclusive.
Additional Considerations
While dash cams range in price, not all provide a high-quality image. A dashcam that records a low-quality image may not clearly show what happened leading up to your crash. If the event immediately before the collision cannot clearly be seen from the dashcam footage, it may be difficult to show who was at fault. For this reason, experts recommend that you purchase a camera that captures a clear image. You will also want a camera with a large amount of internal memory, so you will not have to worry about footage of a collision not being recorded due to the memory being full.
Experienced Georgia Car Accident Lawyers
If you have been involved in a car accident with or without dashcam footage, it is essential that you obtain experienced legal representation. The car accident lawyers at Dozier Law know how to use your dashcam footage, among other forms of evidence, to show fault and to help get you the maximum amount of compensation under the law. Do not delay. Get in touch with us today by calling (888) 239-2129 or by contacting us online.
