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Can Dash Cam Footage Help Resolve Liability Disputes in a Car Crash Claim?

dash camera behind mirrorAt-fault drivers and their insurance companies often dispute liability for a crash. When these disputes come up, the victim’s lawyer may need additional evidence to help prove the claim. For example, footage from a dashboard camera in one of the vehicles involved in the crash, or the vehicle of an eyewitness, may be useful.

We discuss how dash camera footage may help validate a car crash claim, and why victims may need a lawyer to obtain the footage.

If you were injured in a car crash, you should strongly consider contacting an experienced attorney to help you seek the compensation you need. There is no telling what challenges may come up during a car crash claim and you would greatly benefit from the help of a licensed attorney.

For decades, TSR Injury Law has been recovering compensation for injury victims in Minnesota in a wide variety of cases. Our Bloomington-based vehicle accident lawyers are prepared to handle each aspect of the case at no upfront cost to you. We know how to gather the evidence we need and are prepared to go to trial to secure full compensation.

Does Minnesota Allow Drivers to Install Dash Cams in Their Cars?

Yes, you are allowed to install a dashboard camera in your vehicle, provided it is immediately behind, slightly above or slightly below your rearview mirror. You are prohibited from mounting the dash cam on your dashboard because this could obstruct your view of the road.

If you have a dash cam in your car and it records the crash, the footage is yours to use. However, if the footage is from a dash cam in the other driver’s vehicle, or the vehicle of an eyewitness, your lawyer may need to go through a formal process to obtain it. That is, unless the other driver decides to provide it. A witness may do that, but the at-fault driver is unlikely to simply hand it over.

What Might Dash Camera Footage Reveal?

The footage may show the other driver breaking traffic laws, such as:

  • Running through a red light
  • Running through a stop sign
  • Hitting the brakes without a good reason
  • Weaving around other cars
  • Failing to maintain a lane
  • Driving the wrong way
  • Driving with headlights off
  • Driving without working taillights

The dash cam may also capture incriminating evidence in the moments after the crash. For example, maybe the other drive was stumbling around looking like he or she was drunk or under the influence of drugs. If the dash cam captured audio, it might pick up the other driver apologizing or admitting fault for what happened.

This information along with your account of the crash, the police report, crash scene photos could go a long way in helping your lawyer validate your claim.

Dash cam footage could be especially important if the other driver lies about what happened or the insurance company disputes liability. While insurance companies may feel confident about disputing things you said about a crash or the police report, it is hard to dispute video footage. This could be especially true if your case makes it to trial.

Often, dash camera footage is admissible in a court of law, so if your case goes to court the footage could help prove your case to a judge or jury.

How Insurers May Fight Against Dash Camera Footage

If the dashboard camera was installed in a way that violates state law, the insurance company may say the footage cannot be considered. If the case goes to court, the insurance company may argue it should be inadmissible.

That is why it is important to ensure you install the dash camera correctly in your vehicle. Of course, you cannot control how another driver installs his or her dash cam. Even if the other driver had the device installed incorrectly, the footage may still help prove your case.

If the camera was correctly installed, the insurance company may still claim you altered the footage or say the footage shows you are at fault for the crash and not the other driver.

These are all reasons why you should hire an attorney to help you pursue compensation. The attorneys at TSR Injury Law have helped many crash victims secure compensation and we have dealt with many insurance companies. We know the tactics insurance companies employ to deny or devalue claims.

Not only do our attorneys know how to obtain dash cam footage, but we can also fight back against the insurance company’s attempts to exclude dash camera footage from your claim.

Give Us a Call to Discuss Your Claim

There is no risk in calling our firm to discuss how we may be able to help. The initial consultation with a licensed attorney is also free. If we validate your claim and you hire our firm, there are no upfront costs while we work on your case.

Decades of Experience. No Upfront Fees. Call (612) TSR-TIME.

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