How Evidence from AI Dashcams Could Be Used For and Against You in a Truck Accident Case

Every bit of evidence matters in a truck accident case. And because of the technology used in modern commercial trucks, there is a lot of evidence potentially available. Many trucks now use dashcams with integrated artificial intelligence to monitor driver actions and the conditions around the vehicle.

Evidence from this type of dashcam can provide proof that an accident victim’s actions did not contribute to the cause of the collision and show why a trucking company should be liable for the accident. However, the trucking company may also be able to use evidence from an AI dashcam to shift liability to the victim and prevent recovery. So it is critical to work with a personal injury attorney who understands how to obtain, preserve, and analyze this evidence effectively to support recovery in a truck accident case.

What Makes AI Dashcams Different from Traditional Dashcams?

Traditional dashcams have long been a useful tool in legal cases involving all types of vehicle collisions, from motorcycles and cars to the biggest trucks. They record images that show what happened in the moments before, during, and after a collision, and often can reveal how one party’s actions triggered it. But all they do is record.

Dashcams that incorporate artificial intelligence do much more. They monitor and evaluate a driver’s conduct in real time to detect risks. Dashcam systems such as those offered by TruckX and Motive AI advertise that they can:

• Provide dual cameras that focus on both the driver and the road, potentially from multiple angles
• Provide live video stream for fleet monitoring
• Provide the driver with audio and visual alerts
• Store large amounts of information
• Detect when a driver is tailgating, drifting out of the lane, or driving while distracted
• Identify “high-risk drivers” and provide information about their behaviors
• Prompt drivers to improve their driving behaviors

In addition, these systems can integrate with GPS and sensors to track speed and impact force in a collision.

How AI Evidence Could Help Win Your Case

Depending on the situation, there are several ways that evidence from an AI dashcam could establish negligence on the part of another person or company so that you are able to recover compensation for the effects of your injuries. When evidence from an AI dashcam is combined with data recovered from other electronic monitoring devices, such as an Electronic Control Module, the evidence can be very difficult to refute. For instance, these technologies might show that a truck was approaching other vehicles at a high speed, and the driver made no attempt to apply the brakes or even reduce the pressure on the gas pedal.

Unlike human witnesses, the AI dashcam cannot be biased or prejudiced, nor is it prone to suggestion or memory loss. This can make it difficult for an insurance company to challenge evidence presented using this technology. The AI dashcam can show what the road conditions were like and whether drivers were obeying traffic signals and driving responsibly. When an attorney representing an accident victim obtains this evidence, it can lead to a quick settlement for a full recovery because the insurance company knows the evidence is difficult to overcome.

How Evidence from an AI Dashcam Could Prevent You From Recovering Damages

In a truck accident case, experienced legal teams working for the trucking companies and insurance companies will be using every argument they can to defeat a victim’s claim for damages, even when the victim has suffered catastrophic injuries. They may take clips from dashcam footage and argue that those clips show negligence on the part of the victim or someone else. They will be seeking to shift liability onto someone else.

If they can convince the court that the accident victim was even 1 percent responsible for the truck accident, the victim will not be able to recover compensation. That’s because North Carolina follows an old civil liability doctrine known as contributory negligence. Even the smallest mistake could prevent an accident victim from receiving damages if the defendants make the right arguments and present evidence to support them.

This makes it crucial for truck accident victims to work with a dedicated and knowledgeable legal team prepared to argue persuasively that the victim did not contribute to the accident or injuries.  

Challenges to the Use of Evidence from an AI Dashcam

Just because evidence exists does not mean you are automatically able to use it. First, it is necessary to act quickly to preserve the evidence. Recordings such as dashcam videos are often overwritten automatically unless someone takes action to stop the process. An attorney may be able to preserve this evidence by sending a legal notice to the trucking company, but it may require court intervention to ensure that the recording is not erased.

After the footage has been preserved and obtained, introducing video footage from an AI dashcam in court will require authentication by an expert who can attest that it has not been altered and is accurate. In addition, it will be necessary to assess whether other factors could prevent the footage from being admissible. For instance, if the camera records audio as well as video and appropriate consent was not obtained before recording, then the evidence could be challenged as a violation of privacy laws.

Martin & Jones Understands How to Secure and Use Evidence to Your Advantage

It is vital to start gathering and preserving evidence as soon as possible after a truck accident case. Defense teams will begin working on the case immediately, so an accident victim needs to be prepared to keep up. This is tough to do on your own when you’re dealing with the injuries from a truck accident, but an experienced attorney can manage the legal and financial issues while you focus on healing.

At Martin & Jones, we have decades of experience helping truck accident victims recover the maximum compensation available for their losses, and we know how to make the most of the evidence to support our clients at every stage of the case. We encourage you to schedule a free consultation to learn how we could help in your case.