DASHCAMS CAN HELP AFTER AN ACCIDENT, BUT ARE SOMETIMES UNRELIABLE

If you ask a dashcam manufacturer, you’ll be told that these cameras, which mount on the dash of your car and record everything that happens as you drive, often on a loop, are a great way to prove that you weren’t at fault if you’re involved in an accident. Are these the key to a court case, or are those claims overstated?

The truth is that a dashcam absolutely can help in some situations, but it’s important to note that it’s not a guarantee that you’re going to win the case, as they can sometimes be unreliable or they don’t tell the whole story.

For example, if you drive through a green light and slam into another car that is running the red light, that driver may claim that it was actually you who ran the light. Your video footage can show distinctly that the light was green when you went through it, meaning that the other driver must have been at fault.

However, not all accidents are so simple. Dashcams are often considered unreliable because:

— They only show a single shot in one direction.– They may not show the whole story.– They may not tell the court why the crash happened.– The view may not be wide enough to capture everything that is needed.– The dashcam may leave out some information, such as how fast you were traveling.

Often, it’s better to have video footage of a wreck than to not have it, especially if you were injured and don’t remember what happened. However, be sure you know how the legal process works and exactly how your footage is going to be analyzed in Pennsylvania.

Source: LifeHacker, “Will a Dash Cam Actually Help You After a Car Accident?,” Patrick Allan, accessed Oct. 29, 2015