On today’s ever-busier roads, accidents can happen in the blink of an eye with serious consequences for those involved. But when a road accident occurs, establishing who was at fault is often a complex, contentious but necessary process. Necessary because after the accident comes the sorting out of insurance claims and compensation if one or more parties was injured.

The increasing presence of dashcams in cars is proving invaluable in motor vehicle accident claims, providing crucial evidence that can support your case and ensure you receive fair compensation for any damages or injuries sustained. It’s estimated one in four Queenslanders now have a dashcam installed in their vehicle for just this reason – to capture the moment should they be involved in an accident on the road.

Lifestyle Injury Lawyers, for example, recently appeared in a television news segment discussing the value of dashcams after a Queensland mother was involved in a frightening incident where a large truck clipped the back of her car while travelling on a major motorway. The rear-facing camera in her car helped determine who was responsible for the incident.

Significantly, these little devices are quickly improving in quality, capturing broadcast-quality footage of accidents to vastly improve clarity and certainty around what actually happened.

The value of undisputed visual evidence

The primary and obvious benefit of having a dashcam in your car is its ability to capture clear, unedited video footage of any incident that occurs on the road. Nowadays this visual evidence can be instrumental in resolving disputes over liability, particularly in situations where eyewitness accounts may be conflicting or unreliable.

In the event of an accident, dashcam footage can clearly show the sequence of events, including the actions of all parties involved, road conditions, and any potential contributing factors. This objective evidence can help remove any doubt and negate conflicting accounts to strengthen your case and increase the likelihood of a successful claim.

Importance of dashcam in hit-and-run incidents

Unfortunately, hit-and-run accidents are all too common, leaving victims with little recourse and facing significant challenges to be able to claim compensation. While there are avenues to pursue a compensation claim in circumstances such as this there are requirements that must be met regarding certain search and identification inquiries This problem is significantly alleviated, however, by a dashcam which can help identify a fleeing motorist.

High-quality vision will, it’s hoped, identify the make, model, and licence plate number of the offending vehicle, as well as any distinguishing features or identifying marks. This evidence can be invaluable in assisting police to locate the responsible party.

Discouraging fraudulent claims

Dashcams increasingly serve the useful purpose of discouraging fraudulent claims, which can be a significant burden on insurance companies and honest drivers alike. Particularly in situations where there were no witnesses (or none who come forward), the temptation for individuals to fabricate or exaggerate the circumstances surrounding an accident can hopefully be avoided when they are presented with irrefutable visual proof of their actions.

In doing so, the blameless driver is guarded against potentially costly and unjustified claims, not to mention the potentially costly flow-on effects to insurance premiums and Queensland’s compulsory third party scheme.

Helping resolve disputes with authorities

In some cases, disputes may arise with the police or other authorities regarding the details of an incident. Dashcam footage can provide an objective record of events, helping to clarify misunderstandings or discrepancies in accounts.

This can be particularly beneficial in situations where fines or other penalties are issued. The video evidence can be shown to police to support your version of events and potentially have the charges dismissed or reduced.

Making insurance claims easier

Reliable evidence is the key to any insurance claim. Before dashcams were common, insurance companies relied largely on the accounts of the parties involved compared with witness statements and police reports. Dashcam footage now removes much of the uncertainty, faulty recollections or undisguised bias involved in such a process, providing an objective visual record of the incident.

As a result, insurance assessors can more quickly investigate and assess the circumstances of the incident, leading to faster resolution of claims and more efficient payouts.

Contact our specialist team

As mentioned above, our compensation specialists have day-to-day experience representing clients who are in possession of dashcam footage to support their claim against another driver after a motor vehicle accident. At Lifestyle Injury Lawyers our Gold Coast personal injury lawyers know the best ways to utilise this vision to support your claim in negotiations with insurance companies or in the event of a court case. Contact us today if you need to discuss a road accident and the use of dashcam footage.