How Dashcam Footage Can Help (or Hurt) Your Car Accident Claim

A skilled Pittsburgh lawyer can help you fight the insurance companies

After a crash, the truth matters – but proving it can be harder than you think. That’s where dashcam footage comes in. In recent years, more Pittsburgh drivers have installed dashcams in their vehicles for peace of mind. When a car accident happens, a dashcam can become one of the most important pieces of evidence in your entire case.

But like any tool, dashcam footage can cut both ways. It can clearly show that you weren’t at fault, or it can reveal moments the insurance company might try to use against you. That’s why it’s important to understand how dashcam footage can help or hurt your car accident claim in Pennsylvania.

What is dashcam footage and how does it work?

A dashcam is a small device mounted inside many vehicles that records video while driving. Some models start recording as soon as the car turns on and loop over old footage unless you save it. Others are motion-activated or continuously record to cloud storage.

There are different types, including:

Front-facing cameras: These capture everything happening on the road ahead.
Dual-facing cameras: These record both the road and the interior of the vehicle.
360-degree dashcams: These are systems with rear cameras that provide complete views of surrounding traffic.

In many car accidents, dashcam footage offers real-time evidence of how the crash occurred, who was involved, and what happened in the moments before and after.

How can dashcam footage support my car accident claim?

When used correctly, dashcam footage can be a powerful ally in proving what really happened. For example, it may:

Establish fault: The footage may show that the other driver ran a red light, was speeding, failed to yield, or made an illegal turn.
Back up your story: If the other driver gives a different version of events, the video can verify your account.
Help with hit-and-run crashes: A dashcam might capture the fleeing driver’s license plate or the make and model of their car.
Support injury claims: The footage may reveal how fast the impact occurred, how your body moved in the crash, or the severity of the collision
Refute false accusations: In cases of staged traffic accidents or fraud, video can help prove your innocence.

How can dashcam footage hurt my case?

Dashcams aren’t always helpful. Sometimes, they do more harm than good. If you’re not careful, your own footage could work against you. Here’s how:

Audio can capture harmful statements: Saying “I’m sorry,” admitting fault, or speculating about what happened can be taken out of context and used against you.
Insurance companies may use selective clips: A few seconds of footage without the full context might be used to shift blame or reduce your compensation.
Footage may undermine your credibility: If your version of events doesn’t match what the camera shows, even small discrepancies can raise doubts.

Can I use dashcam footage as evidence in a Pennsylvania car accident claim?

In most cases, dashcam footage is admissible in Pennsylvania car accident claims, both in court and during settlement negotiations. To be used effectively, the footage must be:

Relevant: It must relate directly to the crash and help clarify what happened.
Authentic: You or your lawyer must be able to prove it’s real and hasn’t been tampered with.
Properly preserved: If the footage was deleted, overwritten, or edited, it may raise questions about its reliability.

In Pittsburgh and across Pennsylvania, courts typically accept dashcam footage as long as it was legally obtained and hasn’t been altered. But its impact on your case will depend on how it’s presented and whether the other side tries to spin it in their favor.

Do I have to share dashcam footage with the other driver or insurance company?

You are not legally required to voluntarily hand over dashcam footage to the other driver or their insurance provider. However, they may request it. If you refuse, they could become suspicious or deny the claim.

Additionally, during the discovery process, both sides must share relevant evidence. At this point, you would need to provide the footage if it’s requested.

That’s why it’s best to let an experienced Pittsburgh car accident lawyer review your footage before you give it to anyone. An attorney can determine whether it helps your claim, whether it contains anything that could be used against you, and how to handle any request for disclosure.

Also, never delete or edit dashcam footage after a crash. That could be seen as destroying evidence, and it may seriously hurt your case.

What should I do with my dashcam footage after a crash?

If you have a dashcam and you were involved in a collision in or around Pittsburgh, take the following steps right away:

Save the footage immediately: Dashcams often overwrite old footage automatically, so be sure to save the crash footage before it’s lost.
Back it up in multiple places: Save copies to your computer, an external drive, or a secure cloud storage service.
Don’t edit the video: Leave the footage exactly as it is, even if some parts don’t seem important.
Make note of the date and time: Accurate timestamps help validate the footage of when the crash occurred.
Avoid discussing it publicly: Don’t post clips online or share the footage with friends, coworkers, or social media, as this can potentially hurt your case.

What if the footage shows something that might hurt my case?

Just because the dashcam caught something less than ideal doesn’t mean your case is doomed. A Pittsburgh car accident lawyer can put the footage in context so it tells the full story. Plus, accident reconstruction experts or medical professionals may help explain how the footage supports your injuries or proves causation.

Our Pittsburgh attorneys can turn dashcam footage into powerful evidence

If you were injured in a car crash in Pittsburgh and have dashcam footage or think someone else might, you need a legal team that knows how to handle that evidence the right way. Romanow Law Group knows how to use dashcam video to your advantage and how to challenge footage the insurance company tries to twist against you. It doesn’t matter if the footage shows exactly what happened or leaves some questions unanswered. We can build a strong case that tells your side of the story and demand the full compensation you’re owed.

Our legal team will review every frame of footage, examine your medical records, and work with top experts to connect your injuries to the crash. We know how to push back when the insurance company tries to deny your compensation – and we won’t hesitate to take your case to trial if they refuse to offer what’s fair.

We offer free consultations, and you pay nothing upfront. We only get paid if we win for you. Don’t let the insurance company control the narrative or use your own dashcam against you. Contact us today for a free consultation and find out how a skilled Pittsburgh car accident lawyer can build a strong case on your behalf.

“He was reassuring from the beginning, and the entire process was much less stressful than I imagined it would be. Simply stated, he works hard for his clients. I highly recommend Romanow Law Group.” – CW, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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