How Dashcam Footage Can Help Your Car Accident Case

How Does Dashcam Footage Help a Car Accident Claim?

In many car accident cases, the biggest fight is about fault. Dash cam footage gives an objective record of the crash. The camera sits on the vehicle's dashboard or behind the rearview mirror, and it does not forget or take sides. Here is what dashcam video can show:

This kind of crucial evidence helps establish liability. It can also support witness statements and the police report.

Why Does Fault Matter So Much in Georgia Car Accident Cases?

Georgia is an at fault state. The driver who caused the car accident, and their insurance company, pays for the harm.

Georgia also uses modified comparative fault. Under O.C.G.A. 51-12-33, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 50 percent or more at fault, you recover nothing. That is why insurance adjusters often try to shift some blame to you.

Video does not guarantee any result. Footage may also raise questions about your own driving. But in many accidents, it is the strongest proof there is. Learn more about comparative fault in Georgia car accidents.

Can Dash Cam Footage Help in a Hit and Run?

Yes. In hit and run situations, dash cam footage may capture the fleeing car's color, model, and license plate number. Police officers can use that to find the driver. If the driver is never found, the video still helps prove another car caused the crash. That matters for an uninsured motorist claim with your own insurance company. See our guide to hit and run accidents in Georgia.

How Should You Save Dashcam Evidence After a Crash?

Dashcam evidence only helps if it is properly preserved. Follow these steps:

• Lock the clip - stop the camera from recording over the crash video.
• Keep the original file - copy the memory card, but keep the original file and card safe too.
• Do not edit - never trim, slow down, or add anything to the footage. Edits can raise questions about the video.
• Make backups - save copies in two places.
• Do not post it online - sharing the video on social media can hurt your claim.
• Give it to your lawyer - let your attorney decide when and how to share it with the insurance company.

Your lawyer may also look for other video footage, like cameras at stores, homes, or traffic signals. That video can be deleted fast, so early action helps.

What Kinds of Crashes Do Dash Cams Record Best?

Dash cams are most useful when the facts are in dispute. Dashcam footage recorded at the scene can help in these car accident cases:

• Red light crashes - dashcam footage shows the signal and who entered first.
• Rear-end crashes - the dashcam recorded the gap between cars and any sudden stop.
• Lane change crashes - dash cam video shows a car that cut in without a signal.
• Hit and run crashes - the dashcam may have recorded the plate or the car as it drove away.
• Parking lot crashes - dashcam footage recorded at low speed can show who backed out first.

Rear dash cams add a second view. Many crashes come from behind, and a front camera alone may miss them. Dash cams that record both ways give more complete dashcam evidence. When a driver says "I never saw you," the footage recorded by your dashcam may show you were there all along.

Dashcam footage is not perfect. Cameras can miss the moment of impact. Night video can be dark. Some dash cams record at low quality, so plates are hard to read. That is why the footage works best with other evidence, like photos and witness statements.

Is It Legal to Use a Dash Cam in Georgia?

Generally, yes. Recording what anyone can see on a public road is usually allowed. Georgia privacy laws focus on private places. O.C.G.A. 16-11-62 makes it a crime to secretly record people in a private place out of public view without consent.

Audio recording has its own rules. Under O.C.G.A. 16-11-66, Georgia generally allows recording a conversation if you are part of it or one party agrees. Recording audio of private conversations you are not part of, like passengers talking without you, can be a problem. Avoid pointing a camera onto private property. Also mount it so it does not block your view of the road.

What Else Do You Need Besides Dashcam Footage?

Video is powerful, but it is only one piece of a car accident claim. A strong claims process also uses:

Georgia gives you two years to file most injury lawsuits under O.C.G.A. 9-3-33. An experienced attorney can put all the evidence together and deal with the insurance company for you.

Dashcam Questions Drivers in Athens Ask

Can the other driver's dash cam footage help me?

Yes. If the other driver, a witness, or a bus had a camera, your lawyer may be able to request that footage. Ask witnesses at the scene if they recorded anything.

Is dashcam footage allowed as evidence in a Georgia court?

Often, yes. Like any evidence, the video must be shown to be real and not changed. The person who recorded it may need to say it is a true copy of what happened. That is one more reason to keep the original file and never edit the footage.

How long do dash cams keep footage?

It depends on the camera and the size of the memory card. Many dash cams record over old video within hours or days. Save the clip the same day as the crash.

Does dashcam footage help with an insurance claim even if I do not sue?

Yes. Most car accident claims settle without a trial. Clear dashcam footage can help the insurance company see who caused the crash. That can make the claims process faster. Results vary.

What if the other driver's dash cam footage makes me look at fault?

Do not delete it. Destroying evidence can badly hurt your case. Georgia's comparative fault rule may still let you recover if you were less than 50 percent at fault. Talk with a lawyer before you decide anything.

Should I give my video to the insurance company?

Talk to a lawyer first. Let us handle how and when the footage is shared. Our consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we win.