How Dashcams Help Prove Fault in Georgia Automobile Collisions
People call me about intersection collisions weekly. They are one of the most frequent types of accidents, but they can also be one of the hardest to prove who was at fault. If you can’t prove fault then you won’t recover your losses. When the Police arrive, they can only determine fault based on the evidence they observe.
Physical evidence does not always point to fault, and witness statements become critical. Many times the only witness statements are for the drivers involved. Our car accident lawyer can help.
How do Dashcams Help Prove Fault in Georgia Car Accidents?
Driver statements often conflict. Or worse, people will flat-out lie when it’s advantageous for them. And single car accidents are not always the driver’s fault. A deer darting across the road may cause you to crash, but if you made no contact with the animal then your insurer won’t accept the claim. What can you do to protect yourself in such collisions? You can install a dash camera.
Dashcams are a super affordable way to buy peace of mind when involved in an accident. There are cameras for any budget. You don’t have to spend more than $100 to get all the bells and whistles. Dashcams usually are just plug-and-play but can also be hard-wired. They operate continuously and automatically, saving footage when a preset “incident” occurs, such as an impact or bump. Most also have GPS, detects parking motion, and record time, date, and speed. Here are some of the benefits of a Dashcam:
- Video doesn’t lie! Objective video evidence that corroborates your story is the best way to prove fault. This is especially true if you or a passenger suffers life-changing injuries in an accident. The cost of the camera far outweighs the losses suffered: losses you won’t recover from the at-fault party’s insurer, or your insurer, if you can’t prove fault.
- Dashcams help avoid fraud. Scammers and unscrupulous people operate to “create” collisions and pedestrian-car accidents. Recording what was happening before the incident occurred can help prove fraudulent behavior.
- Protect teen drivers. Teen drivers are, well, teen drivers. A camera helps you monitor their driving. Many cameras have lenses facing font and back so you can see what’s going on inside the car while driving. High end models even have WiFi connectivity for real time monitoring. Teen drivers tend to be overwhelmed when they are involved in a collision, often coerced into accepting fault. Or worse, they assume fault when pressured by adults at the scene.
- Parking Protection. Theft, hit and run, vandalism and other damage happens to parked cars. Police don’t always have the resources to respond and show up on private property (parking lots) to create a report that your insurer usually requires when you make a claim. Dashcams help deter such events and can provide important video evidence for any insurance claim you make where you could not get a police report.
- Save Money on Premiums. Some insurers offer discounts on premiums for vehicles that have them. Recording incidents can save your insurer money on paid claims.
Overall, a dashcam is one of the smartest investments you can make and will help you recover thousands of dollars in damages if you are ever involved in an accident. Contact our Athens car accident lawyer today.
An Athens resident Alan Cleveland grew up in Rockdale County. As a founding partner of the personal injury law firm of R. Alan Cleveland, LLC he proudly serves his community and provides skilled representation to injury victims and their families all around Georgia. Alan earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and went on to graduate, summa cum laude, from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School. He is also a graduate of Gerry Spence’s renowned Trial Lawyers College (TLC) in Wyoming. In his free time, Alan frequently speaks at continuing legal education seminars. He also volunteered as a youth baseball coach and assists with Georgia’s high school moot court competition held annually. Alan serves as a Trustee of Historic Athens and is a member of the Development Authority of the Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County.
