Dash cameras used to be a novelty for some drivers. Today, they’re a common sight. A big reason for that is affordability. A camera that records good-quality video starts at just under $50. And when you’re involved in an accident or traffic court case, having irrefutable proof of what happened through dash cam footage is invaluable. But whether a dash cam actually helps a driver when they need it most comes down to how the device is set up and how the driver manages the footage.
What Dash Cam Footage Actually Proves
Video evidence answers questions that witness testimony often can’t. Psychology studies, such as a study by Loftus and Palmer, demonstrate the fallibility of verbal recollection of car crashes. When recalling a traffic incident after the fact, witnesses are highly influenced by outside factors.
This means that in legal testimony, eyewitness reports are not always considered reliable. Even if the witness believes they’re telling the truth, their impression of the incident is often colored by outside factors.
A clear recording shows information about the following:
- Moment of impact
- The position of each vehicle
- The speed of the approach
- Weather conditions
- Timing of brake lights
- License plates
This kind of objective evidence often plays a key role in DM Injury Law accident cases, where video documentation can settle disputes that would otherwise come down to conflicting eyewitness accounts.
The Value of Dash Cam Footage When Dealing With Insurance Adjusters
When there’s obvious liability demonstrated through objective video footage, insurance adjusters tend to settle much faster. That said, video has limits. A camera is mounted on the dashboard and sees what’s directly in front of the car, but unless the model includes multiple camera units, it won’t capture what happens behind the car or to the sides.
Also, light conditions can sometimes mean the footage is blurred or obscured during crucial moments. In some cases, video footage might also give the opposing legal argument ammunition against the dash cam driver. For example, it might show that their reaction time was exceptionally poor, which could invalidate certain legal or insurance claims.
Storage Practices Are Key
Dash cams operate like security cameras, where they tend to record on a loop, overwriting the old footage automatically. What this means in practice is that drivers involved in a serious incident need to immediately pull the footage from the camera and store it separately. Otherwise, the footage will be overwritten.
Ideally, dash cam owners should back up any important footage to a second device or to the cloud to add another layer of protection. Having a backup routine in place can keep drivers from losing crucial evidence. It makes sense to back things up periodically, as it’s not always apparent in the moment that you just captured key footage in a claim against you or another driver.
Privacy Considerations in Missouri and Kansas
While both of these states allow dashboard cameras for personal use, if you’re recording audio, it introduces complications. Recording the road itself is legal, but in Missouri and Kansas, the state law allows the recording of audio under one-party consent rules, meaning the driver is permitted to record conversations they’re a part of without notifying others in the car.
In other states, such as California and Florida, the rules are different, and individuals are not allowed to record audio of other people without their consent.
Drivers are also advised not to share key footage on social media as it can raise privacy concerns. It can also affect legal arguments later on.
Features Worth Comparing
When shopping for dash cams, look at the following features:
- Resolution
- Field of view
- Parking mode
- Storage capacity
A 1440p sensor reads license plates much more reliably than a 1080p sensor, particularly at highway distances. And a wider field of view will catch side impacts that a narrower lens would probably miss. Parking mode is important as it keeps the camera rolling when the car is off, which can help with hit-and-run damage occurring in parking lots.
Why Video Is Only Part of the Picture
A video clip helps, but it’s not enough on its own. A serious injury claim also requires the following evidence:
- Medical records
- Lost wage documentation
- Witness statements
- Police reports
Get Legal Support
Drivers dealing with significant injuries from a crash should talk to Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys for a free case review before signing anything from an insurer. If you’re interested in learning more about similar legal topics, see some of our other articles on these subjects.