Dash cam use is on the rise in Ohio, and these videos are an increasingly common form of evidence drivers use to protect themselves in a potential car accident. Dash cam footage can strengthen your car accident case and help prove fault by providing an objective record of what happened during the moment of the accident.
If you have a recording of your car accident, you likely have questions about how to use dash cam footage in an insurance claim. A reliable Cincinnati car accident lawyer can help you understand applicable Ohio car accident laws and how dash cam footage of your accident may help or hurt your case.
Understanding Dash Cams and Their Role in Accidents
Dash cams have become essential tools for drivers, providing clear, unbiased footage of what happens on the road. When a car accident occurs, this footage can serve as critical evidence to help determine fault, prove negligence, and support your insurance claim.
Prove Fault & Liability
Proving fault and liability is necessary to succeed in a car accident personal injury claim. That is why dash cam footage is so important—it can be key to proving who was at fault for the accident you suffered. Whether another driver ran a red light, drove recklessly, or suddenly changed lanes, dash cam footage provides objective proof in real time of how the accident happened and who is liable for damages.
Strengthen Insurance Claims
Insurers almost always dispute car accident claims to avoid paying out policy limits. If an insurer challenges your claim, dash cam footage can provide clear proof that the events of your car accident happened the way you say they did.
Supporting Witness Statements With Video Proof
Witness statements provide key evidence when proving a car accident claim, but they’re not always reliable. Witnesses may misremember accident details, especially if considerable time has passed since the collision. They also can contradict one another, introducing doubt about their testimony’s accuracy. Having dash cam footage available provides an objective record of the accident that cannot be undermined by misremembered details or contradicting claims.
Capturing Road Conditions, Weather, and Other Critical Details
Road conditions, adverse weather, and other important environmental details are key to understanding the circumstances that caused a car accident. Dash cam footage can clearly show the road and weather conditions at the time of the accident to support your personal injury claim.
Are Dash Cams Legal in Ohio?
Dash cams are completely legal in Ohio. The only restriction on their use involves their placement on the windshield. Ohio law forbids placing “any nontransparent material” in this vehicle area due to the risk of obscuring the driver’s vision. Beyond that, dash cams are perfectly acceptable for private drivers to use.
Opposing parties may try to intimidate you from presenting dash cam footage as accident evidence. They may imply that filming other drivers on the road is somehow unlawful. It’s important to be familiar with state laws governing dash cams to take full advantage of your right to use them.
Is Dash Cam Footage Admissible as Evidence in Ohio Car Accident Cases?
Dash cam footage is considered admissible evidence for discovery and trial exhibits in car accident cases. To be considered usable evidence, the footage must be clear, relevant to the accident, and free from tampering. Your Cincinnati car accident lawyer will examine any available dash cam footage and determine whether it can be used as evidence in court.
Can Dash Cam Footage Hurt My Car Accident Case?
Dash cam footage is legal to use as evidence, but doing so may not always be in your best interest as a plaintiff. The opposition may use your dash cam footage against you to prove you were to blame for the accident. If you are found even just partially at fault, it will reduce your recoverable compensation.
Under Ohio’s comparative negligence statute, you can still recover damages if you were partially at fault for your car accident. However, you cannot be more than 50 percent at fault to recover compensation.
If you are held partially liable, your total recovery will be reduced by your share of the blame. For example, if you are found 30 percent at fault for your car accident, you can only recover 70 percent of your total damages.
Best Practices for Using Dash Cam Footage in Your Car Accident Case
After an accident, immediately save a backup copy of the footage and avoid editing or altering it. Altered evidence becomes much less useful in a personal injury claim because it is no longer a completely objective record of what happened.
Have an attorney review your dash cam footage before providing it to an insurance company. By examining the footage, your lawyer can determine how it may positively or negatively impact your claim.
How Our Cincinnati Car Accident Lawyers Can Help
After a car accident, you may not know where to turn. Representing yourself in a car accident claim puts you at a significant disadvantage because insurers will have their own attorneys and professionals working for them. You need someone to fight for your best interests while you recover from your injuries. Lawrence & Associates Accident and Injury Lawyers, LLC, can help.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Cincinnati, OH, and Northern Kentucky, we’ve got you covered. We strive to serve all community members. Our experienced car accident lawyers are second to none in providing legal assistance for car accident claims utilizing dash cam footage.
Your attorney will answer your legal questions and provide critical services in your case that can make all the difference in securing compensation. Our lawyers will do the following:
- Offer knowledge and experience with Ohio laws
- Investigate your accident and gather evidence
- Handle insurance companies and negotiation
- Calculate the full value of your claim
- File a lawsuit and represent you in court if necessary
- Provide support, guidance, and peace of mind throughout the legal process
Contact Our Ohio Car Accident Lawyers To Discuss Dash Cam Footage
A car accident can turn your life upside down—but you don’t have to face it alone. Dash cam footage of your accident could be the key to proving your case and securing the compensation you deserve.
Our experienced Cincinnati car accident lawyers are ready to review your case for free and use every piece of evidence to your advantage. We’ve secured hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for thousands of satisfied clients over our 20 years in business, so you know you can rely on our attorneys to provide quality service.
Let Lawrence & Associates fight for the justice and financial recovery you need to move forward after an accident. To learn more, explore the frequently asked questions about auto injuries or speak with one of our experienced and knowledgeable attorneys today.
Insurance companies move fast, and so should you. Don’t wait—call us at (513) 951-6723 today or complete our quick online form for a free, no-obligation consultation.
