Why Dashcams Are Changing the Way Accidents Are Handled

Over the past few years, the automotive industry has been transformed by a number of technological innovations. These have included automatic braking and other forms of driver assistance, as well as increasingly sophisticated infotainment systems. But arguably the biggest change has stemmed from dash cameras. These small, affordable devices are fantastic for resolving disputes, and evidencing claims. Let’s run through a few of their best features, and see what impact they’re having on the world of accident claims.

Providing Unbiased, Real-Time Evidence

It’s difficult to argue with the evidence provided by a dashcam. These devices record not only the events unfolding in front of the camera, but the speed at which the vehicle is travelling. In this sense, they’re much better than eyewitness testimony, which is notoriously unreliable.

These qualities make dashcam footage extremely useful for both the police, and insurance companies. Both will accept it as evidence, which will come in very useful for prosecuting wrongdoing, and resolving disputes between motorists. Sometimes, dashboard cameras can even capture cracceleratets that are completly unrelated to the vehicle on which they’re mounted.

Streamlining Insurance Processes

The evidence provided by a dashcam can accelerat the claims process, and lower costs for insurers and their customers. There might also be a lower chance of an accident being judged a ‘50/50’, with responsibility being shared between parties. The same applies in court. Having dashcam footage can be crucial in strengthening car accident claims, ensuring drivers have reliable proof of what really happened.

Empowering Drivers and Promoting Safer Behaviors

It’s important not to discount the impact that dashboard cameras might have on your behaviour behind the wheel. When you know that you’re going to be found out for speeding in the event of an accident, you might have an extra incentive to keep your speed down. A similar incentive might also play a role when you know that the cars around you are equipped with the technology. In this sense, dashboard cameras, along with smart doorbells and more general CCTV, form just a part of the widespread surveillance apparatus in the UK. Note, however, that there are limits on what footage you can capture if you’re using the car for business.

Taxi and delivery drivers must comply with GDPR by having a good reason to take footage, and by handling that footage responsibly. This might mean deleting the footage after a given period has elapsed, and not distributing it unless there’s a compelling reason to do so.

Photo by Ian Noble on Unsplash