How Does A Dash Cam Impact Your Insurance Claim?

If you’ve ever had your life interrupted by a car accident, you know how hard insurance companies will work to dispute your story. Proving you weren’t at fault for the collision is critical for receiving the settlement you deserve, which is why drivers often install a dashboard camera, a.k.a. a “dash cam.” A dash cam is a small video camera attached to your vehicle’s dashboard or windshield that records real-time footage of what’s in front of your car while you drive. Recent advances in technology have made high-quality dash cams more affordable than ever, allowing accurate visual replays of accidents and other occurrences on the road. The accessibility of dashboard cameras has more than a few people asking us about the benefits and pitfalls of using a dash cam for insurance purposes. 

How Does a Dash Cam Impact Your Insurance Claim — Key Takeaways 

• • Dash cams record real-time road footage while you drive and can provide clear proof of who was at fault in a car accident.

• • You can use a dash cam for insurance purposes by proving you weren’t liable for a crash, preventing your premium rate from rising. 

• • However, dash cams can also record evidence of you being distracted, making a driving mistake, or speeding. Insurance companies will use anything to put you at fault so they don’t have to pay your full settlement, including dash cam footage.

• • Dash cams aren’t entirely legal in every state. Certain dash cam models violate state privacy laws depending on what video and audio they record. 

Read on for the pros and cons of how a dash cam impacts your insurance claim. We’ll also explain how a free attorney consultation can help you assess all your evidence before proceeding with your claim. Capable car accident lawyers like our team at Zinda Law Group can tell you if installing a particular dashboard camera is advisable in your state.

Does a Dash Cam Impact Your Insurance Claim? 

A dash cam impacts your insurance claim by providing video evidence. This video includes the events that occurred before, during, and after your crash. Footage from a dash cam can be useful for insurance purposes by showing the other driver’s negligence. For example, it can show them failing to yield, running a red light, fleeing the scene, or breaking other road laws. Insurance companies will often try to poke holes in your story to try to pay as little as possible in a settlement. Dash cam footage showing their client was clearly at fault can shut their arguments down. A dashboard camera’s real-time recording of the incident can provide enough evidence to convince the insurance company to settle without trial. Dash cam footage is especially effective with an experienced car accident attorney helping you organize and submit your evidence. Here’s a positive example of how a dash cam can impact your insurance claim:

• • In some cases, police reports miss or incorrectly record details that are critical to your case.

• • Clear dash cam footage impacts these claims by correcting the police report, proving you weren’t liable for the crash, and claiming the settlement the insurance company owes you.

However, insurance companies will try to invalidate the footage if it’s affected by weather or if it’s unclear for any other reason. We suggest you have a seasoned attorney evaluate your case and dash cam evidence before you submit it. A car accident lawyer will tell you if the footage is clear enough to qualify as evidence, and they’ll explain ways insurance can use your dash cam footage against you.

Can the footage be used against you in court? 

Dash cam footage can be used against you in court by recording your mistakes or reckless driving. Some dash cams record audio. Insurance companies will use evidence of crying babies, loud music, or conversations with your passengers to claim you were distracted and responsible for the crash.  If the insurance company knows you have a dash cam and suspects you of causing the accident, they can access your dash cam footage and audio through a court order. Insurance companies often employ crash reconstruction experts to review dash cam footage and look for examples of reckless driving. For instance, if your dash cam shows you were recklessly changing lanes before an accident, an expert can claim your reckless driving contributed to the collision. Insurance companies are out to pay the lowest amount and are experts at invalidating your evidence, even dash cam footage. We can’t stress enough the importance of asking a seasoned car accident lawyer to review your evidence before you submit it to the court or your insurance company.  Most car accident attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency fees, where you don’t pay anything unless you win.

What is recorded? 

Most dash cams automatically record what’s right in front of you and in your periphery when your vehicle is running. More advanced dash cam designs record what’s in your rearview mirrors, behind your car, and on the sides. The evidence a dash cam can capture varies greatly depending on the model. As mentioned earlier, there are even dashboard cameras that can record the audio inside the vehicle. Finally, dash cams also capture events that happened after the collision. These can include the other driver admitting fault, acting aggressively, being clearly intoxicated, or fleeing the scene.

Does it Help to Have a Dash Cam For Insurance Purposes? 

If the footage and audio of your dash cam records prove you did nothing wrong to contribute to causing the accident, it can save your insurance rates from going up after the crash. It can also help you secure your settlement.

Is There Such a Thing as a Dash Cam Insurance Discount?

Most insurance companies don’t typically give insurance discounts for dash cams. That said, driving with a dash cam can encourage you to follow the road rules and pay more attention, resulting in a safe driver discount.

Are Dash Cams Legal?

Dashboard cameras are legal in most states. However, every jurisdiction has different laws regarding privacy and windshield obstructions that may prohibit the use of a dash cam. Privacy laws in some states prevent dash cams from recording on private property without the property owner’s consent.  Other state laws make recording audio with a dash cam illegal unless all recorded parties provide written consent beforehand. We suggest consulting an attorney before installing a dash cam to find out if it’s legal in your area.

Do You Have to Tell Insurance About a Dash Cam in Your Car?

You’re not legally required to tell ‌insurance companies that you have a dash cam installed in your car. Dash cam footage can be beneficial in proving your claim against insurance companies.  Again, we suggest having a seasoned attorney evaluate your case and review any relevant footage before submitting your evidence.

Final Thoughts on Using a Dash Cam for Insurance Purposes 

Dashboard-mounted cameras record what happens in front of and around you while driving. Dash cam footage can help you prove to insurance companies you weren’t liable for your car accident, helping you get a swift settlement with no questions asked. That said, dash cams record your actions as well, sometimes both inside and outside the car. Insurance companies will use anything they can to dispute the validity of your claim and get out of paying your settlement. Suppose your dash cam video or audio recording even minimally suggests your kids distracted you or were talking before or during the collision. Insurance can and will use your dash cam against you to deny your settlement. If you have any questions about installing a dash cam,  or if you or a loved one were recently involved in a car accident, contact Zinda Law Group for a free attorney consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer. We’ll review your evidence and determine the most effective legal strategy against insurance companies. Zinda Law Group works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing but a percentage of your settlement if we win. Let our knowledgeable team of attorneys ensure your insurance claim is set up for success before you submit any evidence, maximizing the financial compensation you deserve.