Managing Partner
Dashcams are more common than ever, allowing drivers to document their commutes by way of video recordings. The value of dashcam footage is truly seen in car accident cases. Thanks to these videos, it is much easier for the victim to claim the compensation they deserve.
If you or a loved one were in a car accident, and you have dashcam footage, you should understand how valuable it will be in your case. And if you don’t have a dashcam, we encourage you to consider the benefits of having one. The Long Island attorneys of Dell & Dean PLLC explain what you need to know.
What Do Dashcams Record?
Most modern dashboard cameras (dashcams) continuously record high-definition, high-quality videos of driving activities. Many of them also record sound, which can provide additional evidence about a driver’s behaviors and the victim’s reactions after a crash. A dashcam can record such important details as:
- The exact location of the accident in Long Island
- The identities of all parties involved
- Details about the at-fault driver’s vehicle
- Traffic signals and stop lights
- Vehicle speeds
- Road conditions
- Environmental conditions
- Traffic congestion
- Information about the victim’s injuries
Not only does all of this paint a detailed picture of the accident scene, it can force the at-fault party to be honest. If, for instance, a negligent driver tries to excuse their actions by claiming there was heavy traffic, the dashcam footage may contradict this by showing light traffic.
What Do Dashcams Prove?
Moreover, dashcam footage can prove important aspects of the victim’s personal injury case. For instance, the plaintiff may use it to show:
- Negligence: The footage may record the at-fault driver speeding, recklessly driving, ignoring stop lights, and engaging in other negligent or reckless behavior.
- The elements of a Long Island personal injury lawsuit: Victims must prove duty of care, breach, causation, and damages to win compensation. Dashcam evidence is useful in establishing each of these.
- Problems with vehicles: Many car crashes involve defects with the vehicles (either the driver’s or someone else’s), which may point to third party liability on the part of the manufacturer and others. The dashcam can record proof of this.
- Other at-fault parties: Besides the drivers, liability could rest with a third party like a government entity responsible for road work or a pedestrian. The dashcam may capture evidence pointing to their involvement.
- Credibility: Dashcams are objective, neutral eyewitnesses of the basic facts leading up to an accident. If a party to the accident contradicts what the dashcam footage shows, their credibility will suffer.
How the Footage May Help Your Claim
If you recorded dashcam video, you should back up the data and keep it secure until you can hand it to your Long Island personal injury lawyer. This evidence will be valuable to your subsequent accident claim by:
- Saving time: With video evidence, it is much easier to identify the at-fault parties and establish basic facts about the accident. This means spending less time and money establishing such information.
- Corroborating the victim’s account: Dashcam footage can also substantiate the victim’s narrative about what happened. This will strengthen the victim’s testimony in court and their position in the case.
- Supporting expert witness testimony: The victim may need an expert witness, such as an accident reconstructionist, to help with their claim. What’s recorded in the dashcam footage will prove useful.
- Contradicting unreliable witnesses: The at-fault party might offer eyewitness testimony (including their own) about what occurred. If the dashcam footage contradicts these accounts, it will weaken the at-fault party’s arguments.
- Refuting comparative fault claims: In New York, if the victim was partially to blame for an accident, their damages will get reduced. Dashcam footage can help the victim contest claims of comparative fault and thereby preserve their full compensation.
- Expediting negotiations: All of the above can help the victim’s lawyer successfully negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This may save time and avoid the need for a trial.
Let Us Help With Your Long Island Accident Case
If you were involved in a car crash and have dashcam footage of it, it’s time to reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney. Find out how Dell & Dean PLLC can serve you during this difficult time. Schedule your consultation with us today.
