Dashcam footage can be valuable evidence that supports your version of events and helps get to the bottom of a claim when liability is in dispute.
Why Dashcam Footage Matters After a Car Accident
After a car accident, neither party will want to accept responsibility because they don’t want to get stuck paying the bills. This can lead to the at-fault driver denying liability. Their insurance company, in an attempt to save money, may follow suit.
For you to recover compensation for a San Antonio personal injury claim, you must show the other driver was at fault. Dashcam footage can provide a real-time, objective account of the moments leading up to and surrounding the accident. If the other driver has a different version of events, the dashcam footage may be able to show that yours is accurate.
Scenarios Where Dashcam Footage Can Be Helpful
While dashcam footage can potentially be helpful in any car accident case in San Antonio, some situations where it can be particularly valuable include:
- Hit-and-run accidents, where the camera may have shown the driver’s license plate number, can help identify the fleeing driver
- Rear-end collisions, which may show the rear driver was distracted or following too closely
- Sideswipe collisions, where distracted or fatigued driving may have played a role
- Insurance fraud cases, where a driver may have intentionally caused a crash to collect an insurance check
What to Do with Dashcam Footage After an Accident
Dashcam footage can be lost or overwritten, so it’s crucial that you take steps immediately to preserve it. To use it as evidence in your car accident case, it will also have to be authenticated and meet certain evidentiary standards, but your San Antonio truck wreck lawyer can help with this.
Here are the steps that you can take to protect this valuable evidence:
- Save the footage immediately: Some dashcams can overwrite the video within mere hours. Secure the file to prevent automatic deletion. If you don’t know how to do this, look up an instruction manual online.
- Back up the data: Further protect the data by backing it up on your computer and/or external hard drive.
- Document the details: Write a note about the time, location, and other details for when you extracted the data. Share it with your lawyer.
- Give the footage to your car accident lawyer: Your lawyer can review the footage and determine how it can aid your case. Even if you don’t think that the footage is clear, your lawyer may be able to work with experts to enhance the visuals.
Contact George Salinas Injury Lawyers for Help Preserving Your Dashcam Footage
Dashcam footage can be recorded over within hours if it is not saved, and at-fault parties may try to erase the footage if you don’t take prompt legal action. An experienced attorney at George Salinas Injury Lawyers can help preserve valuable dashcam footage so that it is not lost, destroyed, or overwritten. Contact us today for a free case review.