Once found only on commercial and emergency vehicles, dashcams are becoming an increasingly popular vehicle accessory in the United States. Drivers who install these devices may find it easier to recover compensation following a crash in an at-fault state like Missouri.
Having a dash camera isn’t a guarantee that your car accident claim will succeed. However, the footage it captures can make it more likely that your claim will resolve faster and on more favorable terms. Knowing how these devices work and how they’re used in court can help ensure that you get the greatest benefit out of your dash camera.
What Exactly Are Dashcams, and How Do They Work?
A dashcam is a small, portable video recording device that can be mounted in a motor vehicle. The camera has a fixed angle, meaning it captures video footage of whatever is in front of its lens. Depending on the unit and its mode of operation, a dashcam may begin recording when it detects movement or when the vehicle is started.
Some dashcam models record video and audio, while others only record video. These devices are typically powered by a car’s electrical system via the cigarette lighter or a USB cable. Some cameras may also feature a rechargeable battery as the primary or backup power supply.
Most dashcameras capture video in 1080p resolution, though higher-end models can record in 2K or even 4K. This is much better quality than CCTV footage, which tends to be grainy or pixelated, especially when older cameras are employed.
Another useful feature of dashcams is that they enable users to zoom in on certain parts of a recorded image. This function isn’t possible with CCTV, which only captures a “bird’s eye view” of events within a certain radius. Even so, CCTV footage can be useful for unraveling the circumstances of multi-car crashes at stoplights and intersections.
Dash cams save footage to an internal hard drive or memory card. As the device’s memory becomes full, older footage will start to be overwritten. This feature ensures that the device is constantly recording when it’s activated and is always ready to capture an accident when one occurs.
To prevent the camera from writing over footage relevant to a car crash, some devices have equipment built in that detects the g-forces exerted on the vehicle during a wreck. When they detect forces outside of their preset tolerances, they save several seconds of footage and prevent it from being overwritten until the user can download it.
Is Dashcam Footage Admissible in Court in Missouri?
Missouri courts generally permit dashcam footage in car accident court proceedings. Video footage that shows how a crash unfolded is relevant and helpful evidence for a judge or jury trying to determine fault. Your experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer will know the legal procedure that must be followed to have the footage admitted and considered by the factfinder.
Although dashcam videos are frequently used as evidence in cases where such videos are admissible, the court can decide to keep certain videos out of evidence. There are several reasons why this might occur, including the following:
No Relevant Footage
First, the recording must pertain to the crash itself. If the accident happens off-screen and there’s no audio, a court isn’t likely to permit it into evidence. For the same reason, the court wouldn’t allow you to submit hours of video footage showing you driving safely on other days and times.
Poor-Quality Footage
Next, a court can keep dashcam video out of evidence if the footage is of such low quality that it’s difficult to see what’s occurring. Video footage should be self-explanatory — while you may need to tell the court where the accident happened, a judge or jury shouldn’t need you or any other witness to narrate the video frame by frame.
Selective Footage
If the court believes you may have tampered with the footage in any way to remove certain relevant parts, it may also exclude the remaining portions. Crashes don’t take place in a vacuum; the events that happen before and after the moment of collision provide crucial context that the court will want to consider.
Footage That Can’t Be Authenticated
Finally, the court must be assured that the footage you’re seeking to introduce into evidence shows the accident that’s the subject of your claim. For example, if you or another witness can’t convince the court that the dashcam footage shows the accident you’re pursuing compensation for, it will most likely be rejected.
If you purchase and install a dashcam in your vehicle, you understandably want to be able to use the footage it takes when you need it most. To create the best conditions for this to occur, it’s important to follow these best practices:
- Have your dashcam professionally mounted and installed
- Familiarize yourself with the device’s features before using it
- Periodically review footage to ensure that the camera is in focus
- Learn how to download footage as needed
- Take your divide in for service if it stops working or experiences issues
If you’re involved in a crash, tell your car accident attorney about your dashcam footage as soon as possible. Having the opportunity to review the footage early will allow them to consider the various ways it can be used as evidence and help them make the best use of it during settlement negotiations.
The Impact of Dashcam Footage in Missouri Car Accident Claims
When available and admissible, dashcam video can serve as an additional witness to the events that led up to your crash. Unlike a human, a properly functioning dashcam has no bias in favor of one party and isn’t prone to memory lapses.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, dashcam evidence could:
- Show whether another vehicle obeyed the right-of-way laws
- Capture reckless or erratic driving by the at-fault driver before the wreck
- Clarify who had a red light and who had a green light
- Demonstrate any evasive maneuvers you took to avoid the crash
If your dashcam has audio recording capabilities, it could also pick up any conversations you have with the at-fault driver. If the other party involved in the crash says they were at fault or weren’t injured and such statements are clearly recorded, these statements can be difficult to walk back or disclaim.
Even if a dashcam file doesn’t show the entirety of a crash, it can still be useful to help witnesses prepare their own testimony. Seeing the footage may be enough to jog your or a witness’s memory about other details of the crash. Moreover, a judge or jury may find your testimony more credible if portions of it are supported by video.
Not all dashcam footage may be useful to you as the device’s owner, however. As a neutral and objective observer of events, your dash camera can also reveal any driving errors you make. Because Missouri is a pure comparative negligence state, lapses in judgment or negligent actions could reduce the value of your eligible compensation.
Consult With a Top Rated Missouri Auto Accident Attorney Today!
Building a successful car accident claim involves more than simply downloading your car’s dashcam footage. You must take steps to prepare for any eventuality, including the possibility that the court won’t admit or consider your dashcam footage. Otherwise, you run the risk of receiving very little, if any, compensation for your losses.
The experienced Missouri motor vehicle crash attorneys at Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers understand both the usefulness and limitations of dash camera evidence. While we’ll make use of any available footage, we’ll also thoroughly investigate your case to uncover other helpful evidence, increasing your chances of securing fair compensation.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a car accident in Missouri, one of your first priorities should be to consult Beck & Beck Car Accident Lawyers to learn more about your rights and how to exercise them. Contact us today to set up a free initial consultation.
