Keep A Dash Cam Ready For Accident Legal Defense

Some accidents are so vague that fault can't be easily proven. A rare, but still dangerous few of those accidents are scams created by coordinated criminals or desperate solo scammers who know how to make the accident look like your fault. It's possible to win in court against these difficult--even fraudulent--situations, but why leave it to chance? Here are a few dash cam details to help you understand how the devices can protect your best interests with the insurance agency and in court.

Dash Cams Can Cover Multiple Angles

A dash cam system is designed to record a specific angle as you drive. The lenses are usually capable of recording widescreen or panoramic view points for the sake of getting at least the windshield and a bit of peripheral view, but you should confirm the view type before purchasing any system. There are a few cheap dash cam models with limited views, and spy cameras with small, pinhole views that are sometimes used as dash cameras.

In modern dash cams, video is recorded and stored internally. Storage technology is extremely low price these days, considered how cheap USB (Universal Serial Bus) drives/thumb drives for computer use can be. It's the same basic technology, and can usually be copied by using a Secure Digital (SD) card, USB drive, or other device attached with a USB cable.

A single camera pointing at the windshield is the most basic level of security, but consider getting at least two cameras to cover the front and rear. There aren't many reasons to buy more than four to cover the left and right of the car as well, but unless you load up on features, it won't cost a fortune to cover most of your car's perimeter view.

Staying Safe And Legal With A Dash Camera

If the accident is someone else's fault--and especially if it's a scam--you have the upper hand with a camera. Just don't brag about it, because you don't know what the other group is capable of doing.

The biggest threat (aside from your camera not recording) is sabotage. If the other party knows that they're being recorded at the scene of an accident, they may attack you in an attempt to steal or destroy the dash cam. There's no need to exclaim to the world that you have everything on camera; save it all for when the police arrive, and if you're uncomfortable with that, copy the evidence quickly to deliver to a legal opponent.

Know how your camera works ahead of time. Especially in rural or otherwise remote accidents, you may have to get the evidence somewhere safe as you wait. Contact a lawyer to plan an easy destination for your automobile accident evidence, and to discuss the legality of recording in different states.