Can Dash Cam Footage Be Used in Your Car Accident Case?

In a car accident case, you need every possible piece of evidence that can help you prove that the other driver should be legally responsible for your injuries. The Atlanta personal injury attorneys at Hall & Lampros, LLP have helped clients recover over $400 million by investigating their accidents and building strong legal cases.

Dash cam footage may be a critical source of evidence in your car accident case. These recordings can be used in your favor, and they can even be used against you. If you have dashcam footage that can prove your case, it is essential that you preserve the recording and share it with your lawyer.

Call the car accident lawyers at Hall & Lampros to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We can advise you on the steps that you need to take to get a settlement check for your injuries.

A Dash Cam Is Both Legal and Helpful

Georgia law allows you to use a dash cam in your car, provided that you place it in the proper location. A dash cam may be an important witness in your car accident case. However, dash cam recordings may also be used against you if you were doing something wrong before the car accident.

You may be involved in a car accident where the other driver is telling a story that is fundamentally different from yours. In some cases, you may end up in a “truth contest,” and you need persuasive evidence to back up your side of the story. Testimony from an objective third-party witness can corroborate what you are saying. Your dash cam can be an important witness in your favor.

How a Dash Cam Can Work in Your Favor

A dash cam is a digital video recorder that records the view from your windshield. The dash cam may continuously record, and it may automatically back up the footage when you have been involved in an accident. The camera may also record from other vantage points in your car. The footage will be stored on a Micro SD card.

Your car accident attorney will file an insurance claim or a lawsuit on your behalf when you believe that someone else was to blame for the accident. When you file a claim, you would include the evidence that shows that another driver was negligent. You could provide witness statements and pictures of the scene of the accident. You may also introduce the dash cam footage that shows what happened during the crash.

Dash cam recordings can actually be very persuasive pieces of evidence in your case. Even if you have witness testimony, the insurance company may still question whether you may have been wholly or partially to blame for the accident. When you have a recording that clearly shows what transpired, the insurance company may very clearly get the message about what happened, and they will know that they need to settle your claim.

The Other Driver Can Use Dash Cam Footage Against You

Dash cam footage can be a double-edged sword in a car accident case. When police come to the scene of the accident, they may even request that you give them your dash cam footage once they notice that there is one installed in your car. Never provide your dash cam recordings without speaking to a car accident lawyer first. If the other driver learns you have a dash cam, they may request the evidence if your case goes to court.

If you have driven erratically or were doing something wrong during the accident, your own dash cam footage would reveal that. Similarly, if the other driver has a camera onboard their car, they would use their own footage to prove what happened.

Your dash cam footage would be most effective when it is higher resolution. If your video is low resolution, or grainy, it may be difficult to tell what happened. If you are investing in a dash cam, it makes sense to spend enough money that the footage would be useful when you need it.

If you have been involved in an accident, it is crucial that you take steps to preserve the footage. In order to be admissible in court, dashcam footage would need to be authenticated. Copy the footage when you give it to your car accident lawyer. You should have it backed up in case you need it.

Contact an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer Today

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle crash, hire an experienced Atlanta car accident lawyer at Hall & Lampros to fight for financial compensation. You can arrange for a free initial consultation by calling us today at 404-876-8100. You pay us nothing for our time unless you are paid yourself.