The Impact of Dash Cams on Your Accident Claim

Posted by alvinrabin on March 27th, 2023

Dash cams are popular accessories in vehicles today. If you have installed one in your vehicle, you may wonder if it can help with your accident claim. 

The dash cam laws in Minnesota allow you to use footage captured during your accident as evidence for your case. While your dash cam may have recorded your accident, it is still important to contact an experienced Minnesota  car accident attorney to ensure it is used to benefit your case rather than hurting it. 

Learn more about the impact of dash cams on your accident claim here. 

The Footage May Show Who Is at Fault for the Accident

You may want to utilize dashcam footage to prove who is to blame for the accident. This is beneficial when both parties claim they are the victim and there are no witnesses to support the claims. In this situation, it can be difficult to recover compensation. 

With dash cam footage, you have proof of who acted negligently and caused the accident. For example, it may show the other driver running a red light or performing an illegal U-turn, which led to your accident. The video can also show the lane each vehicle was in, the speed of the involved vehicles, and other circumstances that led to the accident. 

Show Your Safe Driving Behavior

Even if your dash cam does not capture the accident, you can use other footage to show that you are a safe and diligent driver. For example, it may show that you attempted to swerve or brake to avoid the driver who swerved into your lane. 

In other situations, you may be able to use the footage to show that you were not fully to blame for the accident, but you do share fault. 

Even when your dash cam did not catch the accident, it may be enough to encourage the at-fault party’s insurance company to offer a reasonable settlement for your damages. 

When Dash Cam Video May Hurt Your Claim for Compensation

In some situations, the dashcam footage will be used against you. This can happen if the footage shows you ran a red light, a stop sign, or performed an illegal maneuver. If this is the case, the insurance company may argue that you are fully responsible for the accident and deny your claim. Another issue is whether the dash cam only captured half of the collision area or was recorded after the accident occurred. In this case, you may be unable to use the footage to prove you are the victim. 

If you find yourself in this situation, consult with an experienced Minnesota personal injury attorney. They can determine if you should use your dash cam footage to prove what occurred and what led to your accident. 

Get Help with Your Car Accident Claim

If you are involved in a car accident, even a minor one, seek medical evaluation immediately. This should be your priority. 

After that, try to collect evidence that will help prove you were the victim of the accident and that you should be awarded compensation. For some cases, this includes dash cam footage. 

Before submitting your video as evidence, be sure to make a copy to keep for yourself. You should also contact a personal injury attorney to help with your case. The right attorney will fight for your rights and ensure you recover the maximum amount of compensation possible for your injuries and losses.