Does Dashcam Footage Help in Bringing Car Accident Claims in Riverside?
Riverside County saw 1,746 people killed or injured in car accidents in 2022 alone. Whether you’re on the 60, 91, or other popular highway, there is no telling when a car accident can occur. While some drivers are forthcoming when it comes to admitting liability after an accident, others aren’t, leading to problems when it comes to establishing fault in a car accident personal injury claim. Continue reading to learn about the innovations of dashcams for car accident claims, and how a personal injury lawyer in Riverside can help your case!
Can Dashcam Footage be Used as Evidence in a Personal Injury Case?
Dashcam footage can be used as evidence in a personal injury claim. This would count as photo/video evidence and has to be deemed authentically depicting the accident without being edited in any way. California penal code 26708 emphasizes that dash cam recording devices can be placed in certain areas so long as they do not obscure the driver’s vision or block air bag deployment, so being mindful of dash cam placement can also attribute to the possibility of using footage as evidence.
How Can Dashcam Footage Help My Claim?
If you are in a Riverside car accident, dashcam footage can provide solid proof of liability. Dashcams can clearly record evidence details like:
- The weather at the time of the accident
- Road conditions
- Any debris
- Traffic violations committed by another driver (i.e. running a red light or speeding)
Dashcam footage can also be used to deter any fraudulent claims made by the other party involved in the accident. By providing a direct recording of the car accident, this footage can also help speed up the claims process for a speedier settlement.
Can an Insurance Company Deny My Dash Cam Footage?
Yes, an insurance company can deny dashcam footage if the footage is unclear or shot at an angle that makes it difficult to interpret the accident. Dashcam footage may also be used by the insurance company to deny a claim if the footage contradicts any statements made in the claim.
Similarly, if your personal injury claim goes to court, dashcam footage with recorded conversations may be considered inadmissible. This is due to California’s penal code 632, which prohibits the recording of conversations without consent. This is why it is extremely important to have a personal injury lawyer review the footage before submitting it as evidence for your case.
Why Should I Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer in Riverside?
After a car accident, many people and their loved ones can be left with devastating injuries. These may include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, burns, broken bones or fractures, and others. Consulting with a Riverside personal injury lawyer can help you learn about filing a personal injury claim to receive compensation.
Your personal injury lawyer can also review the dashcam footage captured from your accident and be able to determine if it meets the guidelines to support your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I’m Partially at Fault in the Car Accident?
If your dashcam footage indicates that you are partially at fault for your accident, then you still may be able to recover compensation. This is because California is a comparative negligence state, which means injured plaintiffs who are found to have some percentage of fault for an accident can still recover compensation. The compensation would just be reduced by the percentage of fault.
How Else Can I Prove Liability in a Car Accident?
Proving liability in a car accident can be done through a multitude of ways, including witness statements, photos of the accident site and injuries, police reports, and eyewitness statements. Speaking with a personal injury lawyer in Riverside can help you learn more about how to approach evidence collecting and establishing liability.
When Should I File My Personal Injury Claim?
Personal injury car accident claims have a statute of limitations of two years from the date of injury to be filed for compensation. If you are dealing with severely painful injuries, mounting medical expenses, and loss of wages after a car accident, then you should consult with a Riverside personal injury attorney at BD&J to begin the process of filing your personal injury claim.
How To Turn Dashcam Footage into Evidence
If you are using dashcam footage to support your personal injury claim after a car accident, there are a few steps you should take. To turn dashcam footage into evidence, make sure to:
- Secure the footage. A lot of dashcams will record on a loop, meaning recordings get overwritten. Saving and downloading the footage of your car accident is essential.
- Create an unaltered backup file. It is never a bad idea to keep a copy of the initial footage. This can be especially beneficial if the first file is corrupted or lost in any way. It is also important to not make any alterations or edits to the footage as you copy and save it to your device.
- Talk to a personal injury attorney. Presenting your dashcam footage to a trusted legal expert can allow you to see whether the footage works for evidence. If you are involved in an accident in Riverside, BD&J is the law team you can trust to review your dashcam footage for insurance or court.
Diligent Personal Injury Lawyers in Riverside Who Fight for Wounded Drivers
A car accident can be a terrifying ordeal that leaves drivers and their passengers injured and with a mountain of expenses. Creating a personal injury claim with dashcam footage evidence can be a great opportunity to obtain compensation from liable parties for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. As long as the footage is clear, recorded from an angle that follows California laws, and accurately depicts the accident without any further edits or alterations, you may find that the footage can help strengthen your claim.
Working with a personal injury lawyer in Riverside or a car accident attorney in Riverside can provide you with unmatched expertise when it comes to the fight for justice and holding parties liable after a crash. The Riverside team at BD&J has recovered more than $2 billion* for injured clients. Contact us now to schedule your free consultation.
