A dashcam can help you win a car accident case in Texas by providing clear and unbiased photographic evidence that can strengthen your claim. The footage recorded by a dashboard camera can be a powerful tool for supporting a car accident insurance claim or lawsuit. If, when and how dashcam footage can be used will depend on the video and circumstances. Make sure to speak with an experienced San Antonio car accident lawyer for legal guidance.
Proving Fault
If a dashboard camera caught a car accident taking place in Texas, the footage recorded can be instrumental in proving and establishing fault. Since Texas is a fault state, it is necessary for a victim to prove fault before he or she can receive financial compensation from another driver’s insurance company.
Proving fault is often synonymous with proving negligence. In personal injury law, negligence is the failure to act with proper care, such as a motor vehicle driver running a red light or speeding. If you can establish that the other driver involved in your car accident was negligent, this can prove (and win) your case.
Dashcam footage may prove negligence by showing a recording of the other driver violating a traffic law or driving erratically. It may show the driver failing to yield the right-of-way, driving recklessly, texting and driving, or making other mistakes that ultimately result in the crash. If the footage clearly shows what the other party did wrong, this could help you win your case.
Providing Key Details
Dashcam video footage can show the actual sequence of events leading up to a collision. This can clarify key details about the crash, such as the road and weather conditions, the presence of traffic signals, vehicle speeds, and driver actions. The footage can support or contest witness testimony and help experts reconstruct the accident, even if it didn’t capture the actual crash.
Countering Allegations of Blame
Unlike eyewitness statements, dashcam footage provides clear evidence of what happened rather than relying on the memories of witnesses or contradicting stories of those involved. This can be important, as Texas is a comparative negligence state. This rule means that a crash victim can still recover financial compensation with partial blame for the accident, but the amount awarded will be reduced by his or her degree of fault.
If the other driver or his or her insurance company is attempting to blame you for the accident, dashcam footage can contradict their version of events. This can protect your financial recovery and help you maximize your settlement.
Speeding Up the Claims Process
If dashcam footage of a car accident is available, it can help your claim or lawsuit reach a faster resolution. It can speed up the investigative process by providing insurance companies and investigators with clear documentation of the events.
Dashcam footage can prevent liability disputes that may otherwise lengthen the claims process or require a full-blown trial to resolve. With undeniable video footage of the crash available, an insurance adjuster is more likely to offer a better and faster settlement.
When Is Dashcam Footage Admissible in Texas?
Videos recorded by a dashboard camera may be admissible (or allowed to be submitted as evidence) if they satisfy certain legal requirements. The footage must be authentic and untampered with. It must be relevant to the case; it should make a fact involved more or less likely. For the most part, the footage submitted must be the original tape or a properly authenticated copy. Make sure to speak with an experienced San Antonio injury lawyer for legal guidance.