How does dashcam footage help in proving fault? Contact The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. for expert legal help today.
In today’s increasing road traffic and accidents, dashcam footage has emerged as a critical tool for determining fault in car accidents. These compact devices provide an unbiased account of events leading up to and during a collision, often proving invaluable in disputes over liability. Understanding how dashcam footage can impact your case is crucial if you’re involved in a car accident.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and have dashcam footage, consult an experienced personal injury attorney. At The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C., we leverage evidence like dashcam footage to build solid cases and secure maximum client compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
A dashcam (dashboard camera) is a small recording device installed in a vehicle, typically mounted on the windshield or dashboard. It records video (and sometimes audio) of the road ahead and, in some cases, the vehicle’s interior and surroundings.
Types of Dashcams
Forward-Facing Dashcams: Record the view in front of the car.
Dual-Facing Dashcams: Capture both the road ahead and the vehicle’s interior.
360-degree Dashcams: Provide a complete view of the vehicle’s surroundings.
Rear-View Dashcams: Focus on the area behind the car.
How Dashcam Footage Can Prove Fault
Dashcam footage objectively records an accident’s events, which can be critical in proving fault. Here’s how:
Clear Documentation of Events
Dashcams capture real-time footage of driving behavior, traffic signals, road conditions, and weather. This evidence can establish a timeline of events, helping to clarify what occurred before, during, and after the accident.
Identifying Traffic Violations
Dashcams can record violations like running a red light, failing to yield, or tailgating. This can demonstrate reckless or negligent behavior by another driver.
Addressing Conflicting Accounts
In many accidents, drivers provide conflicting stories about what happened. Dashcam footage can corroborate your version of events or refute false claims.
Catching Hit-and-Run Drivers
If the at-fault driver flees the scene, a dashcam may capture their license plate number, vehicle make, and model, which can be vital for identifying and locating them.
Proving External Factors
Dashcams may also capture evidence of external factors contributing to the crash, such as a pedestrian jaywalking or debris on the road.
Admissibility of Dashcam Footage in Court
Dashcam footage is admissible in court as evidence, provided it meets specific criteria.
Legal Considerations
Relevance: The footage must be relevant to the case, meaning it directly pertains to the accident or its circumstances.
Authenticity: The footage must be verified as authentic and untampered. Original, unedited recordings are preferred.
Compliance with Privacy Laws: Recording public roads is generally legal, but audio recordings may violate wiretapping laws in some states if consent is not obtained.
Steps to Ensure Admissibility
Save the footage immediately after the accident.
Avoid editing or altering the recording in any way.
Provide the original SD card or storage device if requested.
Benefits of Dashcam Footage in a Personal Injury Claim
Using dashcam footage in your personal injury claim can provide significant advantages, including:
Strengthening Your Case
Video evidence carries more weight than verbal testimony alone. It adds credibility to your claim and can compel the insurance company to settle fairly.
Avoiding Blame
Dashcam footage can exonerate you from fault if the other party tries to shift blame onto you.
Reducing Litigation Costs
Clear evidence of fault can lead to quicker settlements, avoiding the need for lengthy court battles.
Supporting Police and Accident Reports
Dashcam footage can supplement official accident reports and witness statements, providing a fuller picture of the incident.
Limitations of Dashcam Footage
While dashcam footage is a powerful tool, it has its limitations:
Incomplete Coverage: Dashcams may not capture all angles of an accident, such as impacts from the side or rear.
Technical Failures: If the dashcam malfunctions or the footage is unclear, its usefulness may be limited.
Interpretation Issues: Insurers or opposing parties may interpret the footage differently, arguing it does not conclusively prove fault.
Legal Restrictions: Privacy laws or local regulations may limit the footage’s use.
Steps to Use Dashcam Footage Effectively
To maximize the impact of dashcam footage in your case, follow these steps:
Save the Footage Securely
Transfer the video to a secure device immediately after the accident to prevent loss or accidental deletion.
Share relevant portions of the footage with the insurance adjuster and police to support your version of events.
Keep a Backup Copy
Retain a copy of the footage for your records, as the original may be required during legal proceedings.
FAQs About Dashcam Footage
Is it legal to use dashcam footage in Missouri?
Yes, recording public roads with a dashcam is legal in Missouri. However, recording conversations inside the vehicle may require consent due to wiretapping laws.
Can dashcam footage be used against me?
If the footage shows you engaging in negligent behavior, it could be used to argue that you were partially or fully at fault.
Do insurance companies accept dashcam footage?
Most insurers accept dashcam footage as evidence during the claims process, but its impact will depend on its clarity and relevance.
Should I inform other drivers that I have a dashcam?
You are not required to disclose the presence of a dashcam unless asked by law enforcement or during legal proceedings.
Contact The Hoffmann Law Firm L.L.C
Dashcam footage is a powerful tool that can play a pivotal role in proving fault after a car accident. Providing objective evidence can clarify disputed facts, strengthen your personal injury claim, and expedite settlements. However, to use dashcam footage effectively, it’s essential to understand its legal implications and ensure it is appropriately handled.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident and have dashcam footage, consult an experienced personal injury attorney. At The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C., we leverage evidence like dashcam footage to build solid cases and secure maximum client compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
This legal professional has shown exceptional competence and dedication in their field. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking legal representation that is committed to unwavering advocacy and support throughout the entirety of their case.
I would describe this lawyer as highly educated, sharp, and top of his game. Explains the car accident process and treatment options well. The lawyer said if they don’t pay you, we will have the jury take it from the insurance company. Great lawyer. Dynamic person.
Interviewed all the TV car accident lawyers and decided to call this law firm that had great reviews. So happy I did. What a difference!
Response from the owner: TV car accident lawyers are just mass production. This is not a good fit for litigated cases. Paralegals instead of lawyers. Monthly quotas for settlements. Car accident victims end up in a cattle call with the lawyers on TV.
Love my car accident lawyer. This law firm is a step above.
Response from the owner: Our lawyers train and track the best approaches on cases. Whether litigation in cases or the practicalities of certain treatment, the growth of our lawyers over time is paramount. Always staying ahead of and setting practice trends. Thank you.
Serious family member have a car accident injury? Look no further. This litigator is for real. Always two steps ahead of the other lawyer.
Response from the owner: This is a sad reality for car accident lawyers. The #1 passenger in an auto accident is a relative. Helping a family make it through this and putting the family back together is one of the most rewarding things I do as an automobile accident attorney.
This lawyer handles really big accident cases in St Louis. He is a lawyer, accountant and has his masters in tax so he gets the injury cases for individuals that can never go back to work or individuals own a business and cannot run it due to injury. He specializes in valuations of massive loss. Thank goodness a firm like this exists.
Response from the owner: Thank you. When accident are severe and you lose the ability to work or to continue a business, having an accounting and tax background is key. Valuing large losses are second nature for us.
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Response from the owner: Our attorney have deposed nearly all the trauma surgeons at every Level 1 Trauma Center in Saint Louis. These doctors save lives after a car accident. Whether controlling bleeding or reestablishing blood flow or bone structures, they are life savers.
Few lawyers in St. Louis can handle the biggest injury cases! This is one of them!
Response from the owner: Our law firm has made great efforts in terms of training to handle life changing injury cases. Whether in depth knowledge of the medical, loss of income and earning capacity, or lifetime medical care plans, our clients feel confident and know their case is in good hands. Thank you for the compliment.
Cannot say enough about this lawyer. Call if in an accident. This attorney handles the biggest car accidents in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Ash! Our biggest source of cases is our clients. Our second biggest referral source is defense lawyers telling their relatives to call us. Few lawyers can handle the largest cases. Our law firm welcomes and has trained for this. We don’t do mass production settlement like the lawyers on TV. Our clients can never go back to work. Their cases need massive focus and effort and often long fought litigation.
So glad I called attorney Hoffmann. This time I got it right! So glad I hired the Hoffmann Law Firm - professional, reliable and available.
Response from the owner: Thanks Taylor. Our lawyers answer the phone day, night, weekends and even during lunch. Being professional means training to beat the best defense lawyers. Client rely on us to get results and we do.
Great lawyer. Cares about his clients, knows his stuff and goes the extra mile. I recommend this lawyer for car wreck injury claim. Every other lawyer on TV would not even help with my property claim. This attorney did.
Response from the owner: Thank you for the kind words. Every case starts with a great client. You are correct the car accident lawyers on TV are mass production settlement mills. When injury clients fire them, we get their files and the cases are not worked up at all. Appreciate your confidence in us!
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Response from the owner: This is such a great compliment. Most of our cases come from prior client or lawyers that also do car accidents cases but the particular case is too large or too difficult. Being a lawyer and an accountant, we specialize in cases with total lost of income, earning capacity and/or often the inability to continue a family business. Evaluations such as these are second nature for our lawyers. Thanks.
Best in St Louis for auto accident cases. Nobody else is even close.
Response from the owner: So kind of you to leave this review. Whether our lawyers are going after big insurance or their lawyers, skill and experience are essential and win the day for our auto accident clients. Thanks!
This attorney is very smart, very experienced, returns phone calls and knows the answers when asked. One call and I knew this was a great law firm for auto accidents.
Response from the owner: Our law firm appreciates this. This is a comment we get from so many people who call…”none of the lawyers we called told me all the things that you did.” Whether we take a car accident case or not, helping people is a good thing.
5 Star Lawyer for sure! Best you will find in Saint Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the 5 Star Rating. Reviews like this are great. Injury victims quickly figure out the TV advertisers are not good. We work hard at being the best we can be and it reflects in our representation of car accident victims.
Watch this lawyer in action. Was way better than all the others. Get this lawyer for an automobile accident for sure.
Response from the owner: Thanks for the recommendation. Besides doing cases, our attorneys train for this. Hard work, case knowledge and technique is key to success in car accident litigation.
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Response from the owner: We get calls from car accident victims that had to fire the TV lawyers that they hired. They give the same two reasons: 1) they never spoke to a lawyer at the Big TV law firms, only a paralegal, and 2) the paralegal recommended they accept a low offer. At our law firm, you only talk to the lawyer and if an offer is low we tell you to sue. Thanks!
Several lawyers said to call this lawyer because he is the best. You will appreciate this law firm. Helped with the injury and property claims. Attentive and knowledgeable. Great reputation in St Louis.
Response from the owner: Thanks Lexi. Our #1 source of cases is other lawyers referring us cases that are too big for them to handle.
Would use this accident law firm. Best in Saint Louis. Highly rated and it shows. After one phone call, you just know this attorney is better. 5 Stars!!
Response from the owner: Thanks for recommending our lawyers in St Louis. There is a major difference in lawyers as you well know.
Car accident lawyers on tv are not good . Get this attorney ! He is a pro !!
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Quality lawyer. Best law firm for a car accident. Advice was way better than other lawyers I called in St. Louis. Helped with property and injury.
Response from the owner: Thanks. The TV lawyer advertisers are just car accident settlement mills. As soon as people call a real attorney, they always tell us how much better and more helpful we were. Appreciate this.
This lawyer is big time. Smooth. The other lawyers on the other side were not nearly as good as this attorney. I recommend friends in St Louis to him for accident injuries and they all say the same thing…”that lawyer is great.”
Response from the owner: Very nice of you to say. Our lawyers work hard on auto accident cases.
Family used this car accident attorney after a crash. Located in St Louis. This lawyer answers the phone and will walk you through the process. Knows his stuff!
Response from the owner: Taking calls, going over the car accident injury and property process is important. Clients that call always say we are the only lawyers that explained everything. Much appreciated.
Tried the lawyers on TV. They were not good. Hired this car accident lawyer instead because he had great reviews. The reviews are correct. This attorney is as good as they get. He does big injury cases that need to be litigated.
Response from the owner: Car accident lawyers on TV do not litigate cases. It is mass production. They have quotas. Local attorneys are best on auto accidents.
Used this attorney for an auto accident. Highly recommend this lawyer in St. Louis. Communicates well.
Response from the owner: Communicating with clients is essential. Taking the client though the car accident claims process is important otherwise major mistakes can occur. It is an effort that we make. Thanks!
Fantastic law firm, I would recommend! Received free consultation related to an auto accident when my parked car was damaged by a baseball. Very supportive advice, these guys are good!
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Response from the owner: Each step is important in a car accident. Thanks for recommending us for car accidents injury claims.
