The Importance of Dash Cam Footage After an Accident
“It came out of nowhere.”
“I didn’t even see the car that hit me.”
“It was all so fast, I don’t even remember what happened.”
These are phrases our Ontario car accident lawyers hear from injured clients on an almost daily basis. Sudden and unexpected car accidents can happen out of the blue, when a driver least expects them. These shocking incidents often occur in the blink of an eye. And in the shocking moments following a collision, it can be difficult to articulate (or even remember) how the accident occurred.
Both the injured victims and witnesses of traumatic car accidents on Ontario’s roads are often left in a state of confusion and shock. The fallibility of memory – especially in adrenaline-charged, life-or-death scenarios – can make it difficult to gather evidence of driver liability.
This is why attaching a dashboard camera (“dash cam”) to your vehicle can be so important. These affordable, easy-to-use recording devices have become increasingly popular in recent years. They provide an additional layer of security and peace of mind for drivers, as well as crucial video evidence in the event of a collision.
These compact cameras are mounted to a vehicle’s dashboard or windshield. They continuously record the road ahead, capturing footage of the other vehicles in close proximity. Some dash cams are also equipped with motion sensors that trigger the device to begin recording when it detects movement nearby. If someone tries to steal a parked car or if a hit-and-run driver damages an unattended vehicle that has a dash cam triggered by motion sensor technology, the footage captured by the recording device could help identify the offenders.
Not only are dash cams cost-effective and simple to set up, according to the OPP, the use of dash cams can be helpful in many situations, including criminal investigations. Moreover, when collisions occur on Ontario’s roads and highways, dash cam footage can provide a clear, objective record of the events leading up to the car accident.
The footage captured by dash cams can be particularly helpful when bad things happen to good drivers. The real-time, reliable, and impartial account of the events building towards a collision can be crucial evidence for drivers who were injured as the result of another party’s negligence on the road.
The availability of this evidence can help resolve disputes regarding liability by providing a clear and unbiased picture of the incident. As a result, its existence could help expedite legal proceedings and settle insurance disputes quickly.
Without evidence, it can be difficult for an injured car accident survivor to prove that their injury-related costs were, in fact, a direct result of the at-fault driver’s negligence. However, if a car accident victim was traveling in a vehicle equipped with a dash cam, it could be easier for them to prove the liability of the negligent driver and, therefore, recover the compensation they rightfully deserve.
Dash Cam Footage as Evidence
If you were injured in a collision caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Drivers may be considered negligent if they violate the province’s Highway Traffic Act by engaging in wrongful conduct that endangers the safety of other road-users, such as:
- Texting while driving
- Speeding
- Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
- Ignoring traffic signs/signals
- Improperly changing lanes
- Stunt-driving
- Driving recklessly
- Driving distractedly
- And others
Our car accident lawyers serving Ontario rely on various forms of evidence to prove the direct causality between a driver’s negligence and the injury-related monetary losses incurred by the clients we represent. Dash cam footage can be one such form of evidence.
Dash cam footage provides an unaltered, impartial, true-to-life, video representation of the series of events leading to the accident, including any negligent actions of the at-fault driver. It can also help establish the severity of the impact and the accident’s resulting injuries. By doing so, dash cam footage can provide insurance companies and the Court with a visual representation of the suffering endured by the injured party.
Furthermore, the footage can refute any false or disputed claims. This is especially important, since insurance fraud is estimated to cost Canadians several billion dollars each year. Luckily, collisions caught on dash cam can help prevent insurance fraud while ensuring that legitimately aggrieved parties can receive a fair settlement.
The availability of dash cam footage following a car accident can prove invaluable for injured parties. It provides a factual account of the incident in question, and can help prove the veracity of an injured car accident survivor’s account. This evidence can help our Ontario car accident lawyers effectively fight for our clients’ rights, and advocate for the compensation they are rightfully owed.
Identifying Hit-and-Run Drivers
If a driver fails to remain at the scene without stopping to render assistance or exchange information, it can pose a significant challenge for injured accident victims alike. However, dash cam footage can play a pivotal role in identifying hit-and-run drivers who flee a collision after injuring another road-user.
By capturing the make, model, license plate, and other identifying features of the hit-and-run vehicle, dash cam footage can provide vital clues to law enforcement officials, aiding in their investigation and helping them bring the offending parties to justice. This evidence can be crucial in locating the responsible driver and holding them accountable for their actions.
Identifying hit-and-run drivers becomes even more critical when injuries are sustained in the accident. An injured car accident survivor’s ability to identify the at-fault party might expedite the process of seeking compensation for their injuries and related damages.
The accurate identification of the hit-and-run driver might also help injured car accident victims seek fair compensation for both their economic and non-economic damages. Although anyone injured in a motor vehicle collision should be entitled to certain no-fault accident benefits (even when the at-fault driver failed to remain at the scene), depending on the severity of the injuries sustained, the available insurance coverage may not cover their total losses. By identifying the responsible motorist and pursuing a civil claim against them, our car accident lawyers serving Ontario may be able to help the victims of hit-and-run collisions get fair and sufficient compensation.
With the help of dash cam, people who were injured in a hit-and-run may be able to assist in police investigations, identify the offending party, and demonstrate their criminal actions in Court. In addition to proving their identity, this video evidence can help establish the at-fault driver’s negligence, support the injured party’s claim, and help them secure the compensation they should be owed.
Hurt in a Collision? Call Today for a Free Initial Consultation
Dash cam footage has become a powerful tool in the pursuit of truth and accountability in the aftermath of injury-causing car accidents. By providing motor vehicle operators with unbiased video evidence of wrongdoings on Ontario’s roads, dash cams can help the victims of another driver’s negligence get a fair and comprehensive settlement.
Purchasing and installing a dash cam in your vehicle is a worthy investment. No one anticipates being involved in a collision, but the video footage captured by a dash cam can help mitigate injury-related financial losses should an accident occur.
If you were hurt in a collision caused by a negligent driver, our Ontario car accident lawyers may be able to provide you with crucial legal feedback and assistance. To review your situation, contact us today and receive a free initial consultation on your case.
