The Role of Dashcam Footage in Greensboro Car Accident Cases
Have you been in a car accident in Greensboro? If the collision was caught on a dashboard camera (dashcam), the video footage could play a key role in your accident injury claim. Here’s what you need to know about the role of dashcam videos in car accident cases and how a lawyer can make this evidence work for you.
Benefits of Dashcam Footage in Car Accident Cases
Dashcams can provide objective evidence about what happened during a car accident. Videos can show the moments leading up to the crash, the impact, and what happened immediately afterward. Dashcam videos can confirm how the accident occurred, which driver had the right of way, whether someone ran a red light, or if either party was speeding, for example.
Videos can corroborate witness statements. Video evidence can correct the record if the at-fault driver makes false claims about the crash. Police reports and witness statements can be inaccurate or incomplete, but dashcam footage captures events as they happened. A clear video can make it easier to prove your injury claim and recover compensation for injuries, lost income, pain, and suffering.
Dashcam videos can also capture identifying details that could help authorities find the other driver after a hit-and-run accident.
Legal Considerations and Admissibility in North Carolina
Dashcam videos can provide irrefutable evidence in a North Carolina car accident case, but certain rules affect whether you can use it in court.
The video must be relevant, clear, and untampered with for a judge to allow it as evidence. It’s also worth noting that dashcam footage can help you prove who caused the accident, but it can also work against you if it shows you making a mistake. That is a significant consideration, especially since North Carolina applies contributory negligence rules that prevent claimants from recovering any compensation if their negligence played any role in causing the crash.
If you are considering using dashcam recordings in your case, you should review it with a lawyer to understand its admissibility and how it could impact your claim.
Steps to Take If You Have Dashcam Footage of an Accident
If you have dashcam videos of an accident, you should take several steps to protect the valuable evidence and use it effectively. The recordings can help you prove what happened, but you must handle dashcam evidence correctly to avoid affecting its integrity or admissibility. Here’s what you should do:
- Save and back up the videos. Many dashcams automatically overwrite old recordings unless the user enters a command to protect the video. Save and back up the footage immediately. Store the video on multiple devices to prevent accidental loss. Transfer the file to a computer, external drive, or cloud storage.
- Review the video carefully. Watch the entire recording to see what it shows. Look for key details like traffic signals, vehicle speeds, and driver behavior. If the video contains audio, listen closely to any conversations or background noises that could provide additional information.
- Do not edit the footage. Keep the original file exactly as recorded. Any changes, even minor edits, could raise questions about its accuracy. If you need to highlight a specific part of the video, make a copy instead of altering the original.
- Share the file with your lawyer. A lawyer can determine the best way to use the video in your car accident claim. They can review the footage to see whether it supports your claim and, if it does, develop a strategy for presenting it to the insurance companies or in court.
Talk to Our Greensboro Car Accident Lawyers Now
If you have dashcam videos of a car accident and need legal guidance, Ward Black Law can help. Our team can review your video, explain your legal options, and handle your case from start to finish.
Contact us today for a free claim review to discuss your legal options with an experienced car accident attorney.