Dealing with a car accident is stressful. They can cost you a fortune in repairs, or you may need to purchase a new vehicle entirely. In the meantime, you may have to depend on an expensive rental car to get around. While this is going on, you have to shoulder the burden of going back and forth with your insurance provider. Drivers purchase insurance to protect themselves and their property, but we all know that insurance companies are out to protect their best interests.
Your insurance company will try their best to deny your claim so that they do not have to pay you the total cost of resolving your situation. Many people have dashcams in their cars and use their footage to support their insurance claim for this reason. Although it can be helpful, dashcam footage can also hurt your case. An experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer can determine whether your dashcam footage will be an asset to your insurance claim.
How Your Dash Cam Footage Can Work in Your Favor
When dealing with the insurance company, one of the most important things is to prove that you were not at fault. A dashcam could clearly show that another driver was at fault or that circumstances that were outside of your control are what led to your accident.
Often car accidents are he-said-she-said situations. You can effectively corroborate your statement and strengthen your case with dashcam footage. The dashcam footage could also help prove that you were driving correctly and following the rules of the road.
How Your Dash Cam Footage Can Hurt Your Claim
While dashcams are beneficial technology, there is still room for human error. If you surrender your dashcam footage as evidence, the footage could show that the camera was obstructing your view. This could lead to you being deemed partially at fault for the accident. Typically people install their dashcams themselves, and it may not always be apparent to them when they have done it incorrectly.
Aside from improper installation, your dashcam footage could implicate you in other ways. Your insurance company may use the footage against you. They could judge your driving or any offhand comments captured by the camera and use that to deem you entirely or partially at fault. As a result, you may not receive full compensation for your losses.
Get Legal Advice from an Experienced Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyer
Depending on your situation, dashcams can help or hurt your insurance claim. If you are unsure of what to do, you should consult a motor vehicle accident lawyer who can guide you through the process. At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C., our motor vehicle accident lawyers have years of experience successfully defending our clients’ accident claims.
Using our extensive knowledge and legal resources, we can determine the best strategy for your case. Do not let the insurance company get away with giving you less than what you need. Contact our law office today, and find out if your dashcam footage will benefit your case. To schedule your free consultation, complete our contact form or call us at (215) 822-7575.
