Why You Should Consider Putting a Dashcam in Your Car or Truck

North Carolina is a popular destination for vacationers and new residents. This means our roads are congested with drivers who aren’t familiar with the layout, and may make  traffic accidents more likely with each passing day. It may be helpful to have a dashcam mounted in your vehicle. These price for these cameras has dropped to the point where they are becoming a common tool to protect yourself in a variety of situations. Studies suggest that the use of dashcams improves overall road safety. In this post, we look at some of the reasons a dashcam can be a good investment.

What is a Dashcam?

The device we commonly refer to as a dashcam is a small video camera that is designed to be mounted on the dashboard of a car, truck, or other vehicle. These devices typically record a continuous stream of images through the front windshield. Some cameras also record images through additional windows or within the interior of the vehicle.

In North Carolina, you can purchase a dashcam of moderate quality for less than $100, and they can either be installed by a shop that works with car audio equipment or as a DIY project.

Video is typically recorded and stored on an SD card. You can either replace the card when it is full or record over it and reuse the card. The recording provides evidence that is hard to refute and can help you in several situations.

A Dashcam Could Help You Recover Damages After a Car Accident

The person who caused the accident can be held liable for harm resulting from that accident. Before someone who is injured in an accident can recover damages from the person who caused it, however, the injured person needs proof to show what happened and how the irresponsible actions of the other person caused the injuries and damage to their vehicle.

It can be very difficult to accurately reconstruct what happened from evidence such as skid marks and photos of vehicle damage. Witness accounts of the accident may be very different, so it can be a matter of one person’s word against another. Video from a dashcam can provide solid evidence of how drivers were behaving before the accident, as well as what happened during and after the accident.

If footage from your dashcam shows another driver running a red light or cutting in front of another vehicle in violation of traffic laws, you make it very difficult for the other driver to deny liability. This could encourage their insurance company to make a fair settlement offer early on rather than delaying and dragging out the case.

A Dashcam Could Help You Prove You Are Not At Fault

If you are being accused of causing an accident or committing a moving violation, footage from your dashcam could be used to show that you are innocent. Even if the images your camera recorded do not show what actually caused the accident, they may be sufficient to show that you are not responsible, saving you considerable amounts of money.

Similarly, if a pedestrian or bicyclist claims you hit them, footage from your dash cam can establish your innocence. Footage from your camera can be very helpful if your insurance company wants to cancel your policy based on accusations of liability.

A Dashcam Can Reduce Problems from Theft and Vandalism

If you set your dashcam to record any time it detects motion, then when someone approaches your vehicle, they will be recorded. The sight of a dashcam with the operating light on could be enough to encourage a thief or vandal to leave your vehicle alone and target someone else’s. Or if your vehicle is damaged, footage may be used to identify the perpetrator.

A Dash Cam Can Encourage Safe Driving Practices

People may act more responsibly when they know they’re being watched. That effect can make a dashcam a thoughtful addition to your vehicle because it can encourage safe driving practices by everyone who drives your car. Even others on the road who notice a dashcam through your windshield can be inspired to slow down, allow more space for lane changes, and engage in other practices that can reduce the likelihood of an accident.

With or Without a Dashcam, You Need the Right Attorney to Secure Compensation After a Car Accident

Having evidence and knowing how to leverage it most effectively are two different things. At Martin & Jones, we have more than 40 years of experience using evidence to show why our clients are entitled to the maximum recovery after motor vehicle accidents. Dashcam footage can be extremely helpful when building a claim for liability, but we also know how to make use of accident reconstruction techniques and other strategies to secure the best recovery for accident victims in all types of circumstances. 

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident, call us at 800-662-1234 or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation and consultation to learn what your claim may be worth and how our team can help you obtain full and fair compensation for all your losses.