Dash cams have become increasingly popular among private individuals and can play a crucial role in car accident cases. A dash cam can provide a video of a collision and corroborate other evidence in a car accident claim. Footage can also be used in court to provide an objective record of a crash.
If you have serious injuries from a car accident and have a recording, you need to understand the role of dash cams in Georgia accident cases. A car accident injury attorney with Bayuk Pratt can assess your dash cam footage and gather other evidence to establish the other party’s liability and demand fair compensation to cover your medical expenses and other losses. Our law firm has numerous satisfied clients who can attest to our skill in representing accident victims and pursuing full and fair financial compensation on their behalf.
Contact us today for a free case evaluation. Our Georgia personal injury attorneys are available 24/7. Please call at your convenience to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer.
What Is a Dash Cam?
Dash cams are a type of specialized camera that mounts on a car’s dashboard. They record the road in front of the car and sometimes the interior of the cabin. Dash cams were once exclusively used by law enforcement but have been adopted by private drivers as digital recording technology has become cheaper and more accessible. Newer dash cameras can record in high resolution and have features such as cloud storage, making video recordings easier to store and download.
Are Dash Cams Legal in Georgia?
Yes, dash cameras are legal to use in Georgia. However, any dash cam must comply with laws requiring cars to have an unobstructed windshield. According to Georgia Code 40-8-73, drivers cannot affix any objects to the windshield that obstruct the driver’s view of the road. As long as the dash cam doesn’t block your view of the road, you can legally use it. You should place your dash cam directly behind your rear-view mirror to minimize obstructions.
How Can a Dash Cam Help My Georgia Car Accident Claim?
Drivers involved in a car crash often have conflicting accounts of the sequence of events that led to the crash. Dash cam footage provides an objective and unbiased account of a motor vehicle accident and how it unfolded. It may reveal the conditions that preceded the accident and the factors that contributed to it. Most importantly, dash cam footage can provide hard-to-refute evidence that the opposing driver violated a traffic law and was negligent. It is much harder for insurance companies to dispute personal injury claims when injury victims have video footage of the event. When developing a car accident lawsuit, an experienced car accident attorney will seek dash cam footage or a security camera recording that shows the auto accident.
Could a Dash Cam Hurt My Car Accident Claim?
Yes, a dash cam could hurt your claim. If the footage reveals you were at fault, it could reduce the compensation you receive in an Atlanta car accident claim or court verdict. If dash cam footage conflicts with your version of events, it could harm your credibility. Audio from dash cam footage might capture inadvertent statements that the other driver’s insurance company tries to use to undermine your claim.
For the best results, your dash cam footage should meet the following criteria.
- Full View of the Road – The footage should capture an unimpeded view of the road and the accident. Opposing parties are more likely to dispute footage that doesn’t fully capture the accident.
- Captured the Full Accident – The footage should capture the moments before the accident, the actual collision, and the moments immediately afterward.
- Good Resolution Quality – Footage from your camera should ideally be at least 1080p HD, but 720p is also acceptable. Lower resolutions might not capture details with enough fidelity to serve as persuasive evidence.
- Unedited Footage – Dash cam footage should be unedited, with no cuts or breaks. Otherwise, there may be accusations that the footage has been manipulated and does not accurately reflect what happened.
How Can a Dash Cam Video Help in a Hit-and-Run Case?
Dash cam footage can be a game-changer in hit-and-run cases. Footage can show that the other driver fled the accident scene and may help police identify the fleeing driver, who may face criminal charges. Police often request a copy of dash cam footage at the accident scene to confirm the type of automobile the fleeing driver was driving and gather any identifying features.
Can My Dash Cam Footage Be Used in Court?
Yes, dash cam footage is admissible as evidence in a court of law in Georgia. In fact, dash cam footage can be a highly reliable source of evidence. The camera doesn’t lie. Dash cam footage can be used to help determine fault in a car accident case.
Like other types of evidence, courts must assess dash cam footage to determine its relevance to the case at hand. Courts will also assess whether the footage is authentic and whether its value outweighs the risk of introducing unfair prejudice into the trial.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Lawyer
Dash cams can provide compelling supporting evidence in car accident claims. If you have car accident injuries from a recent collision caused by someone else, contact an auto accident attorney at Bayuk Pratt to discuss your legal options. Our legal team has over 50 years of experience representing car accident victims and demanding maximum compensation.
Our law firm has recovered over $300 million for our clients. As battle-tested attorneys, we have taken on insurance giants and emerged victorious. You can count on Bayuk Pratt to do everything in our power to secure a just and speedy resolution. Our Atlanta car accident attorneys are skilled negotiators. We are successful in resolving most car accident claims without going to trial.
Contact our offices online or call today for a free consultation with a car accident attorney in Georgia. Consultations are free, so there is no risk in scheduling a meeting.
