Nowadays, cameras and surveillance systems are everywhere you go– from grocery stores to big malls. Dash cams or dashboard cameras are used in vehicles and document the driver’s driving and anything that happens on the road. Many businesses require their drivers to install dash cams to avoid fraudulent claims.
If you are ever accused of negligent driving in an accident, you have one useful tool at your disposal– a dash cam. In California, you may be allowed to use your dashcam footage in court to prove your side of the story. If you were injured in a car accident and have access to dashcam footage, speak to a car accident lawyer in Roseville today.
Do courts allow dashcam footage to be presented as evidence?
There is one rule about the evidence you present in court, and that is– that the piece of evidence, whether it be a video or a photo, should have been collected legally. You may not utilize illegal ways to obtain evidence, even though it may prove your innocence.
Generally, dashcam footage is credible evidence in the eyes of the law. However, there are some considerations to note. These are as follows:
- The footage should have been recorded in a public place.
- You should be able to show that the footage is from the time of the incident in question.
- You should establish that it was indeed your personal dashcam that was used to record the incident.
There are some unique instances where your footage may not be accepted in court. For example, if someone had altered the video before you presented it in court, it would not be admissible.
Additionally, if the dashcam contains audio recordings of a conversation between people in the vehicle who did not know they were being recorded, it becomes a privacy concern. Thus, your evidence will not be accepted.
What does a dashcam record?
Most people think a dashcam only records what the driver sees when they are driving. However, they record much more. While different cams may have different features, here are some basic things that all dashcams record:
- Audios from outside the vehicle.
- Audios from inside the vehicle.
- The driver’s steering.
- If the driver pushes the brakes.
- The direction of the car.
- The speed of the car.
- Video from inside as well as outside the vehicle.
Dashcam footage matters
When you take your car accident case to court, you will be required to provide evidence before you can get your hands on any compensation money. A dashcam can show that it was the other driver that was negligent and not you. Hire an attorney today.