Should You Buy A Dash Cam For Your Own Vehicle?

Having a camera mounted to your vehicle’s dashboard or windshield is a convenient way to record what happens around you while you’re driving.

USA Today tells us that having a dash cam has “gone mainstream,” but is a dash cam really worth the cost and the effort? Can dash cam video be used as evidence if you are involved in an accident? If you’re injured, dash cam video and a car accident law firm in Evansville may be able to assist in the process of obtaining compensation for your damages.

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Why Do Drivers Buy Dash Cams?

Dashboard cameras today in are less conspicuous and smaller than earlier models. While some capture wide angles and produce high-def video, others offer night vision.

Motorists purchase dashboard cameras for a variety of reasons, but perhaps the leading reason why consumers buy dash cams is to protect themselves legally. For instance, if you are accused of rolling through a stop sign or red light, a dash cam may be able to prove that you’re innocent.

Dash cams can provide additional value if you are involved in a collision with another vehicle. If you are blamed for causing a collision, your dash cam could provide video evidence showing the other driver involved was actually at fault.

How Dash Cam Evidence is Being Used In Traffic Cases

While dash cam video evidence can help your case if you’re innocent, it could backfire if you were the driver responsible for the crash. Dash cams have become increasingly common. Dash cam video has become a routine part of accident investigations for both police departments and automobile insurance companies.

If you’re ticketed for a traffic violation, dash cam evidence may prove your innocence and could help you avoid fines, a driver’s license suspension, and higher insurance rates.

Dash cams can provide persuasive evidence after an accident. If you are driving in Indiana and someone crashes into you, you might not even have clearly seen what happened, but a dash cam, in some cases, will capture the entire incident.

If Injured By a Negligent Driver, Do I Need an Auto Accident Lawyer?

While dash cam footage can be helpful, without an experienced attorney to support you, you may have difficulty proving your innocence and winning your case.

In Indiana, if you’ve been injured in a collision, you are encouraged to speak with an experienced Evansville personal injury attorney. If you have dash cam video, your attorney can review the footage to determine if it is helpful to your case.

How are Personal Injury and Auto Accident Cases Settled in Indiana?

Many personal injury claims in Indiana are settled outside of court, which means that an injured victim of negligence may not have to appear in a courtroom. However, a small percentage of personal injury claims cannot be settled privately. If that happens in your case, your attorney may recommend taking your case to trial, therefore asking a jury for the justice and compensation you deserve.

Dash cams are legal in Indiana, but they must not obstruct a driver’s vision. Indiana restricts windshield mounts to a four-inch corner on the bottom of the passenger side of the windshield. As stated prior, many of the new models are less obtrusive than the older versions. In other states, the laws governing the use of dash cams vary greatly.

When Should You Contact an Attorney?

If you or a loved one have experienced an accident, it is important to follow steps to ensure safety following the accident:

stay calm and ensure you are safe
check yourself and others for injuries
call the police
document the accident if able
collect information from witnesses including names and phone numbers
seek medical attention even if you feel fine
contact an attorney

If you’ve been injured by a negligent driver whether there’s video evidence or not, you should contact an experienced car accident injury attorney as soon as possible. The legal team at Tuley Law Office have decades of combined experience to assist you throughout the legal process of obtaining the compensation you deserve. Call us today for a no-cost case evaluation.

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