How Dash Cam Footage Can Impact Your Accident Claim

Dash cameras, or dash cams, are small devices that continuously record the road and can provide powerful evidence after a car accident. When an insurer disputes fault or questions the severity of an impact, dash cam footage can help prove exactly what happened.

The Value of Dash Cam Footage

Insurance companies rely on evidence to determine who caused a collision. Dash cam footage offers an unbiased record of the events leading up to, during, and after a crash. The footage can:

• Show who was at fault: Recordings often reveal if another driver ran a red light, changed lanes without signaling, or followed too closely.
• Disprove false statements: If the at-fault driver lies about what happened, video evidence can immediately expose the truth.
• Support injury claims: Footage can show the force of impact, which helps validate your medical injuries and damages.
• Strengthen negotiations: When insurers see clear video evidence of fault, they are more likely to offer a fair settlement.

Dash cam footage provides clarity and credibility that written statements or photos alone cannot match.

How Texas Law Views Dash Cam Evidence

In Texas, dash cam footage is legal and generally admissible in both insurance claims and court proceedings. Texas follows a one-party consent rule for recordings, meaning you can legally record events in public without notifying the other driver. However, the footage must meet certain standards:

• Relevance: The footage must directly relate to the accident in question.
• Authenticity: The video must be unaltered and verifiable as genuine.
• Clarity: The recording should clearly show the events leading up to the crash.

Courts and insurance adjusters consider dash cam footage as strong supporting evidence, especially when it aligns with police reports and witness statements.

When Dash Cam Footage Can Hurt Your Case

Although dash cam evidence can help, it can also hurt your claim if it shows that you were partially at fault. Texas applies a modified comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation decreases by your percentage of fault, and if you are more than 50 percent responsible, you cannot recover damages.

For example, if the footage shows you speeding or using a phone before impact, the insurer may argue that you contributed to the accident. Therefore, it is important to have an attorney review the footage before submitting it to the insurance company.

Preserving and Using Dash Cam Footage

If you are involved in an accident, take immediate steps to secure the footage:

• Save the video to a computer or cloud storage.
• Make a backup copy in case the original becomes corrupted.
• Do not edit or alter the footage.
• Provide the video to your attorney, who can review and submit it appropriately.

Proper handling ensures the footage remains admissible and credible during your claim.

Common Mistakes Drivers Make With Dash Cam Footage

While dash cam recordings can strongly support a car accident claim, many drivers make simple mistakes that weaken their evidence. Some delete or overwrite footage before securing a backup, losing key proof forever. Others share clips on social media, allowing insurance companies to use edited or out-of-context footage against them.

In some cases, drivers unintentionally edit or trim the video, which can make it inadmissible in court. Failing to include timestamps or metadata also raises questions about authenticity. Even something as small as adjusting brightness or contrast can create doubts about whether the footage was altered.

To avoid these problems, save the original file immediately, make verified copies, and consult an attorney before sharing or submitting the footage to an insurer.