Unsure of what to buy a loved one this holiday season? Here’s the gift personal injury lawyers are recommending: dashcams. Also called dashboard cameras, these are small cameras which are mounted onto the front dash of your car. They record everything happening outside the vehicle while you drive and can be helpful if you get into a collision.
Most of us know that the police have dashcams, which sometimes provide critical evidence in a drunk driving case. The state will rely on the video to prove a defendant was unable to walk in a straight line or talk clearly.
Police aren’t the only ones who benefit from the technology. Dashcams have come a long way, and they are now available to the public at a reasonable price. A dashboard camera can make or break a car accident case, allowing you to prove that you are not at fault for the wreck and shouldn’t have to pay compensation.
The camera typically runs off your car’s power supply. It records whenever your car is in motion and video is stored on a memory card. You can find dashcams online or in most stores, like Walmart.
Top 5 Benefits of a Dash Cam
You can find a basic dashcam for under $100. Some people don’t think the expense is worth it, but there are tangible benefits to purchasing one and taking a couple minutes to install it properly:
Prove Fault for an Accident
Iowa remains a fault state for car accidents. If you’re at fault for a rear-end collision, for example, then you need to pay compensation to the person you struck. But what happens if you were maintaining a safe distance and the other driver slams on the brakes for no reason?
You can show the police and your insurance company your dashcam video, which should clear up any confusion about whether you were driving carefully. Armed with this evidence, you can avoid paying compensation to the other driver. Even better, you can get compensation for your vehicle repairs and other losses, like medical care.
Help Find a Hit and Run Driver
Someone might have crashed into you and then sped away. A dashcam can record the vehicle, including the license plate number. This is a good way to identify a hit-and-run motorist.
Obtaining compensation for a hit and run accident is notoriously difficult in Iowa. Insurers might assume you crashed because you were distracted or tired, so they deny a claim. A dashcam might make it easier to get the compensation you deserve. The police will also thank you for helping them identify a hit-and-run driver.
Protect Against Theft
Car theft is a real problem in Iowa. Someone might break into your car to steal something, or they might steal the car itself. The dashcam can provide critical video evidence of the thief’s identity.
Even better, some dash cams connect to your mobile phone. So even if the vehicle is stolen, you can still access the video from your phone and follow the car thief in real time.
Monitor a Child Driving Your Car
Young drivers are prone to reckless driving. They might even pick up friends and go joyriding even though you have told them not to. A dashcam is a great way to “peek in” and keep tabs on your child.
Save on Insurance Premiums
Some car insurers offer a discount for having a dashcam installed. And even if they don’t, you will possibly recoup the expense. Just imagine if you get into a wreck and aren’t to blame. Thanks to your dashcam footage, your insurer won’t find you at fault and your premiums won’t increase.
Which Dashcam is Best?
If you look online, you can find dashcams which run the gamut from basic devices for under $100 to more sophisticated cameras offering 4K quality video and other bells and whistles.
It’s up to the consumer to purchase a camera that’s right for them. However, we do recommend some features:
- Remote connectivity. Wi-Fi connectivity will allow you to access video from your phone, which is critical if someone steals your vehicle.
- GPS tracking. This feature allows you to locate your car if it is stolen.
- Two cameras. Some dashcams have a camera for the front and one for the back. We think a camera in the back is great protection.
- High quality video recording. The better the quality, the more useful the dashcam. We sometimes rely on dashcam footage to read a license plate of a car that is whizzing by. The higher quality the video, the easier it is to pull this info from the footage.
What Are the Risks of a Dashcam?
We need to mention the risks. Installing a dashcam isn’t “risk free.” Probably the greatest risk is that the police can access the camera footage with a search warrant and use the video against you.
Suppose you crash into someone and then fail to stop. That’s a crime in Iowa. If your dashcam records you speeding away, then the police could access that footage. That might be all the evidence they need to convict you and send you to jail for a hit and run.
Nonetheless, we assume most drivers follow the rules of the road. It’s other drivers you are worried about. And having a dashcam can protect you in the event a dangerous or careless motorist smashes into you.
Speak with a Des Moines Car Accident Lawyer
Car accidents leave our clients in intense pain. Some are confined to a hospital bed for weeks after life-saving surgery. Those with more moderate injuries can remain housebound and unable to go to work or even visit with friends and family.In this difficult state, many people need help bringing a car accident claim. Contact Ball, Kirk & Holm, P.C. today to speak with a Des Moines car accident lawyer. We have offices in Iowa City and Waterloo, but we can travel to meet you. Our lawyers are always available 24/7 for our clients.