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More and more people are choosing to install dash cameras in their vehicle for a variety of reasons. One of the reasons is to establish what happened in an accident in a manner that is not easily contradicted by the other insurance company.
A dash mounted camera or dash cam is a camera that records why you are driving. It is similar to a GoPro for your vehicle. The video cameras cost between $50 and $200 depending upon the model that you choose. Some, are mounted by a suction cup on your dashboard and connected to power by a cigarette charger. Others are permanently mounted with direct power lines.
As soon as the vehicle starts, the video camera records the scene where it is focused. Trucking companies have been experimenting with dash cams, both forward and rear, to reduce claims and make truck drivers more accountable. Some bus companies have cameras recording the passengers to reduce claims.
In a recent Houston 18 wheeler accident lawsuit we are handling, the trucking company produced a dash cam film showing the forward view of the big rig and an interior view of the truck driver. The video indicates that the light had turned red before the big truck enters the intersection. While the driver was ticketed for running a red light, most truck drivers fight their tickets, and the citation usually is not admissible in court unless the driver is found guilty of the charge.
By having a video showing exactly how the truck accident occurred, liability issues are now somewhat resolved. Without a video showing how the wreck happened, the defense of the case would usually revolve around a ‘yellow light” or perhaps even claims that the injured plaintiff was the one who ran the light.
Having evidentiary proof that is admissible in court is a game changer for both parties to a lawsuit. While in this instance, the trucking company will not be able to argue that the truck driver did not run a red light, in another case, the trucking company may avoid a lawsuit by proving that the light was green.
In other words, video cameras recording the crash eliminate the possibility of different versions of the story about the cause of a crash. Frequently, the video footage can help determine fault in lane-change truck accidents.
Some insurance companies are now accepting dashcam footage to resolve liability issues and pending claims. However, insurance companies are not offering discounts for dash cam use. Nevertheless, many drivers and trucking companies are using this new technology to protect themselves from inappropriate traffic tickets and to establish who was at fault for a crash.
In Russia, over 1 million drivers have dash cams installed on their vehicles to help prevent police corruption.
Many police units come standard with video cameras, which can provide evidence about such things as whether the driver arrested for drunken driving looked intoxicated on the video.
Trucking companies use videos to protect themselves from false claims and give themselves incentives to resolve cases fairly early on when the truck driver clearly was at fault.
Related Resources:
Critical Evidence to Win 18 wheeler Accident Cases
Truck Accidents and Roadway Lighting
Evidence That Should be Collected to Win a Truck Accident Case
DOT Changes the Hours of Service Rules for Truck Drivers
https://www.autoinsurancecenter.com/would-dash-cams-resolve-accident-disputes-in-u.s.htm
